PIONEER HISTORY 



OP 



MEDINA COUNTY 






1ST. B. NOETHKOP, 




MEDINA, OHIO: 

GEO. REDWAY, PRINTER. 

1861. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
N. B. NORTHROP, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
Northern District of Ohio. 



^^' 



PREFACE. 



History enriches the mind, gratifies a worthy desire 
to be informed on past events, enables us to avail 
ourselves of the experience of our predecessors, 
informs and regulates our judgment, and is profitable 
for reproof and correction. 

The earliest records of humanity are found in the 
Sacred Scripture, and for that reason have a strong 
claim on our diligent study. Next to inspired history, 
our own town, our own county, our own State, our own 
common country and the deeds of our fore-fathers who 
first settled and improved the land or country we call 
our own, should receive our notice. To Americans, a 
knowledge of American .history is essential. 

A second and third generation are now enjoying the 
fruits that resulted from toils and perils of their indus- 
trious and frugal ancestors, and what a contrast between 
circumstances and appearances tJien and now! The 
tangled forest is gone, the beasts of prey that prowled 
are gone, the war-whoop of the red man is hushed, the 
wigwams are wasted away by the rot of time, and the 
council-fires are long since extinguished, and in their 
stead we have fertile fields, smiling gardens, commodi- 
ous dwellings, well arranged school-houses, civilized 
communities, edifices erected and dedicated to the wor- 
ship of God. Time, culture and science have wrought 
a trr? reformation. 



4 PREFACE. 

It is my design to give a comprehensive history of 
those who followed the devious Indian foot-path through 
the wilderness of this part of the Western Reserve and 
established themselves in what is now called Medina 
county, and in my narratives I must necessarily observd 
brevity. Many important incidents must remain untold 
because those who took part in them died before their 
deeds were recorded. 

All that I have compiled was gathered either from 
manuscripts or from the oral statements of those who 
saw or knew the facts. I put forth this small history 
under a firm belief that it is due to those who acted, 
that their doings should be registered, and it is also 
proper that each coming generation should read and 
know what was done by its ancestors. 

Take, read, and contrast the many privileges now 
enjoyed, compared with the many privations of the 
first settlers, and take encouragement to persevere. 

In all the toils of this protracted undertaking, the 
author has been animated by the hope of offering an 
acceptable and useful service to the present and future 
generations, by detailing the elements from which has 
grown the prosperity and present happy condition of 
a free people. 

N. B. NORTHROP. 

Mediba, Junb. 1861. 



WESTERN RESERVE. 



The Western Reserve, of which Medina county is 
a portion, is situated in the north-east quarter of the 
State, bounded north by Lake Erie, east by Pennsyl- 
vania, south by the parallel of the forty-first degree of 
north latitude, and west by the counties of Sandusky 
and Seneca. Its length east and west is 120 miles, by 
an average width of 50 miles from south to north, 
comprising an area of 3,800,000 acres. It is surveyed 
into townships of five miles square. A half million of 
acres was stricken off the west part, and donated by the 
State of Connecticut, to certain sufferers by fire, in the 
revolutionary war. 

The manner by which Connecticut became possessed 
of that portion of Ohio, called the Western Reserve, 
was the following : King Charles 2nd, of England, 
granted to the Colony of Connecticut in 1662 a charter 
right to all lands included within certain specific boun- 
daries. At that early period the geographical knowl- 
edge of Europeans concerning America was very lim- 
ited. Patents that had been granted often interfered 
with each other and caused confusion and disputes. 
The charter granted to Connecticut by King Charles 
embraced all lands contained between the 41st and 42nd 
parallels of north latitude, and from Providence plan- 
tations on the east, to the Pacific Ocean on the west, 
with the exception of the New York and Pennsylvania 



6 WESTERN RESERVE. 

colonies. For some years after the United States 
became an independent nation the interfering claims 
occasioned much collision of sentiment between the 
Union and the State of Connecticut. The controversy 
was, after many years, compromised by the United 
States relinquishing all their claim, and guaranteeing 
to the State of Connecticut the exclusive right of soil 
in the 3,800,000 acres as before described. 

The United States, by the terms of the compromise, 
reserved to themselves the right of jurisdiction, and in 
due course of time they united the Western Reserve to 
the north-western territory, from which was created the 
State of Ohio. 

Trumbull County was formed in 1800 and comprised 
in its limits, at that date, the whole of the Western 
Reserve. At that early date there were very few 
openings made or settlements between Warren and 
Sandusky. Portage was formed from Trumbull in 1807, 
and for two years the seat of justice was appointed at 
the house of Renj. Tappan, who settled in Ravenna in 
1799. Medina was formed from Portage in 1818. 

It may be a matter of interest to the reader to know 
the names of the first counties within what is now 
called the State of Ohio. The county of Washington 
was established in 1788, by Arthur St. Clair, then Gov- 
ernor of the territory, extending westward to the Scioto 
and northward to Lake Erie, embracing nearly one- 
half .the present area of the State. In 1790 Hamilton 
County was established, embracing that portion of the 
State between the two Miamis, and extending north to 
a line drawn east from the standing forks of the great 
Miami. The County of Wayne was established in 1796, 
including within its boundaries the north-western por- 
tion of Ohio, part of north-eastern Indiana and the 
whole of Michigan territory. In July, 1797 Adams 



WESTERN RESERVE. 7 

County was established, comprehending a large tract of 
territory on each side of Scioto river, and extending 
north to the south line of the then Wayne County. 
Prior to 1798 the whole area now composing the State 
of Ohio was comprised within those four counties. 

Medina County was formed February 18th, 1812, 
from that part of the Reserve west of the 11th range, 
south of number 5, and east of the 20th range, and 
attached to Portage County, until organized. It was 
organized in April, 1818. The first settlers of the 
county were principally from Connecticut, though 
within the last twenty years there has been a large acces- 
sion of industrious Germans. The surface is rolling, 
with a larger portion of bottom than ridge land ; the soil 
is generally clay and gravel loam, and is better adapted 
to the growth of grass than grain. The principal pro- 
ducts are corn, oats, wheat, hay, butter and cheese. 

The first settlement made within the present limits 
of the. county, and prior to its organization, was at 
Harrisville, in February, 1811, by Joseph Harris and 
family, which was then composed of wife and one 
child. 

Shortly thereafter a second settlement was made in 
Liverpool township, by Justus Warner. The war of 
1812 having been commenced, caused delay in making- 
settlements in other sections of the county, which 
continued for more than two years. After the close 
of the war in 1815, settlements became more numerous. 
The village now called Medina, was originally called 
Mecca, as can be seen on maps of an early date. 

In 1814, Mr. Zenas Hamilton made an opening with- 
in that portion of the county called Medina Township. 
The want of a market caused the price of produce to 
be very low. Wheat was sold in 1820 for 25 cents and 
less per bushel, and more than one person in the county 



8 WESTERN RESERVE. 

can tell of offering ten bushels of wheat for one pound 
of tea. A man hauled with oxen a wagon load of 
husked corn ten miles, with which to buy three yards 
of satinet for pantalets. Often did men attend church 
with woolen pants patched with buckskin. Ox teams 
were the pleasure carriages of the early settlers. Five 
yards would make a full dress for a lady who resided 
in what is now Medina County, in 1814. 

The settlements in the county commenced in a man- 
ner that might seem peculiar. Instead of making 
openings on one side, or in some particular section of 
the county, and as they were strengthened by accession 
in numbers, they began their settlements wherever 
their individual interests led them. Many openings 
were made at the distance of many miles from each 
other. In consequence of the distance, journeys had 
frequently to be taken ten or fifteen miles for the sole 
purpose of getting some mechanical job done, which, 
though trifling in value, must be done in order to push 
forward business at home. In getting to and from mill, 
days were spent. For many years the nearest post- 
office was Cleveland, to which place a man would spend 
two days in going and returning, for sake of a single 
letter. Often have fathers left their families and started 
with ox team fifteen or twenty miles in quest of provi- 
sion. The necessary outfit would be axe, blanket and 
bell. With axe, he cut his road, with blanket or quilt 
he was protected against inclement seasons, and bells 
told where to find his oxen when let loose to graze du- 
ring the night. Where he tarried all night an unbroken 
wilderness was his inn, and the howling of wolves the 
nightly music to charm. At early dawn lie arose, 
listened for the sound of the bell, got his trusty oxen 
yoked, ate his meal in silence, but with gratitude, rolled 
up his scanty bed-covering and traveled forward. 



WESTERN RESERVE. 9 

The young folks in an old settled country have a 
very faint knowledge of the daily hardships and priva- 
tions endured by first settlers. To have a view of 
Medina County and its inhabitants, and contrast then 
and now, the change would be truly great. It was not 
uncommon in pioneer times to find a young man, with 
no implement but axe, engaged, solitary and alone, 
felling the forest and making the first opening. A 
rude hut, hastily constructed, was his dwelling, a piece 
of pork, a loaf of corn bread and a few potatoes his 
dainty and daily food. A pronged stick was his fork, 
a split slab his table, and a few leaves and a quilt his 
bed. There he toiled, there he cooked, ate, and slept 
soundly, for many weeks without seeing or conversing 
with any human being. At night when the rushing 
winds ceased to make the forest vocal, the wolves were 
the only tribe that serenaded him with their wild music. 

After months of trial and privation, by the industry 
of the young man, the opening is made, the rude cabin 
erected, and thoughts of seeking and gaining a com- 
panion are entertained. The more comfortable homes 
of his nativity are revisited by him, his school-mate is 
thought .upon, the future prospects in the western wil- 
derness are portrayed, and in a few weeks the same 
young man who had lived alone becomes a husband, and 
in company with wife returns to his cabin. 

To entertain his better half (using his own language) 
the bed must be reconstructed, and additional furniture 
and table ware must be provided. With axe and saw 
he made a bedstead, on which was placed a tow tick, 
filled with fall grass. A large pocket knife did all the 
carving, two short blocks were the chairs, and a punch- 
eon, hewed by the axe was the table. 

In process of time there were strong evidences that 
a little calico would be needed. To procure it the 
2 



10 WESTERN RESERVE. 

young husband travelled nine miles, but got there too 
late. All the calico was sold, and the merchant had 
not cloth of any kind that would make a little frock. 
He returned weary and disappointed to his home, and 
sorrowfully told his wife of his disappointment. The 
good wife informed him that she could make a pretty 
decent frock out of a pair of his old tow trousers. 

In due time the little stranger came, and was furnished 
with the frock. Years came and went, the child be- 
came a man. The father and mother died, that son 
was heir, and in the course of 35 years from the first 
opening made by his father, he sold the farm for $1750, 
went to the west, where he now resides, surrounded with 
all that makes life agreeable. 

To one of our modern belles, such a life would be 
intolerable. Let not such contemn. Their grand-mother 
used the spinning-wheel for a piano, a splint broom, 
made by her husband, swept the puncheon floor, and 
the ox team hauled her and family to church. Such 
pioneers are worthy of grateful remembrance. 

Many now ride in carriages whose grand-father re- 
sided in cabins, the windows of which were constructed 
by cutting out a log, putting in slats perpendicularly 
and horizontally, and using paper greased with bear's 
oil or hog-lard instead of glass. Not a few of the early 
settlers ground their corn in a hand mill, or pounded 
it in a hommony block with the but end of an iron 
wedge. The finer part of the corn meal was used for 
bread, the coarser portion was used as hommony, which 
when boiled was considered by many delicious food. 



COUNTY STATISTICS, 



In 1818 the county of Medina was organized. At 
the organization there were nineteen townships, com- 
prising a larger area of land than at present — Norton, 
Copley, Bath, Richfield, Wadsworth, Granger, Hinck- 
ley, Guilford, Montville, Medina, Brunswick, Westfield, 
Liverpool, Harrisville, Grafton, Sullivan, Penfield and 
Huntington. In 1826 the lands listed and returned to 
the County Auditor for taxation were 411,904 acres ; 
valued at 939,382 dollars, being a fraction more than 
two dollars per acre. In 1827 the townships of Grafton, 
Penfield, Huntington and Sullivan were taken to form 
in part the county of Lorain. After the detachment 
of the foregoing townships the number of acres in the 
county was cut down to 295,043, and listed for taxation 
at 719,078 dollars, being nearly three dollars per acre. 
From the year last named to 1830 very little change 
in the taxation of real estate occurred. In 1830 the 
townships of Sharon, Lafayette and York were organ- 
ized, having been previously attached to contiguous 
townships. In 1831, '32 and '33 the townships that 
now compose the county were organized and recognized. 
Having given a hasty account of the original townships, 
I will now give in detail their valuations and taxes, 
and for the purpose of showing the progress and in- 
crease in value of each township, I will commence in 
1826 and give an exhibit every five years : 



12 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



No. 1. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 
1826. 



Norton, - - 

Copley, - 

Bath, 

Richfield, 

Wadsworth, - 

Attached to Granger, (now Sharon,) 

Granger, - 

Hinckley, - 

Guilford, 

Montville, - 

Medina, - 

County Plat, 

Brunswick, -- 

Westfield, 

Attached to Westfield, (now Lafayette,] 

Attached to Medina, (now York,} 

Liverpool, - 

Harrisville, - 

Attached to Harrisville, (now Chatham) 

Attached to Grafton, (now Litchfield,) 

Grafton, - 

Attached to Sullivan, (now Homer.) 

Sullivan, - 

Attached to Tenfield, (now Spencer,) 

Penfield, - 

Making a total value of real i 
to be $1,006,453, and the taxes I 



Value of 
Lauds. 


Value of 
Tersonal 
Property 


Taxes. 


$50,136 


$8,608 


$597 06 


40,419 


2,820 


410 96 


36,415 


2,376 


368 57 


53,798 


10,008 


606 15 


42,350 


6,360 


462 74 


43,965 


544 


422 84 


40,299 


2,752 


408 99 


40,527 


752 


392 05 


38,179 


2,340 


384 74 


37,392 


992 


379 05 


34,779 


7,076 


413 30 


2,623 




25 92 


34,215 


4,920 


371 79 


29,608 


3,400 


313 58 


33,852 




321 60 


29,936 




295 62 


37,232 


2,520 


377 65 


35,785 


5,864 


395 66 


28,464 




270 41 


26,885 




255 41 


39,952 


2,544 


365 52 


30,888 




293 43 


35,154 


1,300 


346 45 


30,029 




296 54 


29,433 


1,240 


302 80 


md pers 


onal p 


roperty 


?9,664 £ 


>7. 





COUNTY STATISTICS. 



13 



Next is presented an account of the valuation of real 
and personal property, and the taxes on the same, for 
the year 1830: 

No. 2. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 
1830. 


Value of 
Lands. 


Value of 
Personal 
Property 


Taxes. 


Norton, - 


$47,449 


$8,640 


$603 36 


Copley, 


39,051 


3,864 


409 62 


Bath, - 


37,340 


2,952 


382 79 


Richfield, - 


54,068 


8,040 


620 36 


Wads worth, - 


44,280 


11,568 


554 68 


Attached to Granger, 


43,905 




636 45 


Granger, - 


40,441 


4,952 


593 87 


Hinckley, 


40,456 


2,23 2 


405 55 


Guilford, - 


37,597 


4,840 


759 68 


Montville, - 


37,184 


1,656 


396 82 


Medina, - 


39,807 


10,040 


529 28 


T3 runs wick, - 


36,066 


6,264 


728 46 


Westfield, 


30,599 


4,312 


363 43 


Attached to Westfield, 


34,826 




330 86 


Attached to Medina, 


29,936 




314 33 


Liverpool, - 


37,687 


4,168 


397 93 


Harrisville, - 


35,165 


5,040 


435 92 


Attached to Harrisville, 


28,102 




395 70 


Attached to Medina. 


26,855 




308 95 



In the foregoing table the townships of Granger, 
Guilford and Brunswick had wisely allowed a tax to 
build school-houses to be assessed, which makes their 
payments seem large when contrasted with the valua- 
tion of other townships. A tax for road purposes, also, 
had been put on duplicate and aids to increase the tax. 



14 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



This table will present a different feature in valuation. 
Town Lots in Medina and Seville are being placed on 
duplicate. Town Lots and Buildings in Medina are 
valued at 20,829 dollars. Town Lots and Buildings in 
Seville are listed at 1,130 dollars. No other townships 
report any Town Lots. Merchants' Capital now becomes 
taxable and comprises a large item. The number of 
horses and cattle increases and swells the basis on 
which to levy. The price per acre of land is rising, 
and every item gives evidence of increasing wealth : 

No. 3. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 
1835. 



Norton, - $58,173 $19,615 $595 23 

Copley, - - - 58,810 11,924 671 91 

Bath, - 57,122 9,424 722 74 

Richfield, - 65,253 32,808 644 88' 

Wadsworth, ... 63,186 23,270 626 07 

Sharon, - 53,807 6,640 559 26 

Granger, - 50,979 9,976 685 51 

Hinckley, - 57,166 7,642 488 60 

Guilford, ... 55,007 14,950 477 41 

Montville, - 52,868 6,718 498 77 

Medina, - 67,760 28,408 736 54 

Brunswick, - - 53,523 16,844 640 92 

Westfield, - - - 47,919 13,154 431 77 

Lafayette, - 45,328 1,696 362 77 

York, - 42,410 2,816 332 52 

Liverpool, ... 50,594 7,976 392 53 

Harrisville, - - . 37,524 11,6 325 65 

Chatham, - - - 43,243 1,384 525 69 

Litchfield, - - I 37,870 2,415 282 21 

In this table the townships of Spencer and Homer 
are listed and assessed with the townships named. Al- 
though those two townships are formed and have elected 
township officers, their organization was not consum- 
mated in time to nppcar separately for taxation in 1835. 



Value of 

Lauds and 
Houses 



Value of 
Personal 
Property 



Taxes. 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



15 



Up to close of 1839 the townships of Norton, Cop- 
ley, Bath and Richfield composed a part of Medina 
county. Thereafter they became a part of Summit 
county, taking off the duplicate a valuation of $177,908 
of real estate, $23,496 of personal property, and 
$2,016 13 of tax. From 1840 onward the valuation 
and taxes in each township comprising the county can 
be given without being in any way mixed with parts of 
other counties : 











NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 
1840. 


Value of 
Lands and 


Value of 
Personal 


Taxes. 




Buildings 


Property 




Wads worth, - 


$66,322 


$21,576 


$1,002 63 


Sharon, -.-'"- 


55,530 


13,964 


880 18 


Granger, - 


52,504 


11,154 


1,106 03 


Hinckley, 


56,458 


9,894 


974 24 


Guilford, - 


58,324 


18,562 


941 51 


Montville, 


52,842 


14,756 


1,265 46 


Medina, - 


78,592 


25,836 


1,729 41 


Brunswick, 


55,268 


13,076 


1,045 16 


Westfield, 


45,356 


7,120 


766 11 


Lafayette, 


51,756 


16,036 


802 61 


York, - 


43,944 


9,038 


776 65 


Liverpool, 


52,882 


10,264 


1,008 78 


Harrisville, - 


41,006 


18,896 


757 13 


Chatham, 


44,320 


5,322 


1,321 34 


Litchfield, - 


38,966 


6,752 


608 22 


Homer, 


42,812 


4,440 


693 51 


Spencer, - 


43,545 


5,051 


690 29 



In some of the townships there had been levied heavy 
taxes for road, township and school-house purposes, 
that may seem to the observer disproportionate when 
observing the valuation. 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



In the following table there is a marked increase of 
personal estate placed on duplicate for taxation, and 
still the taxes increase : 

No. 5. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 
1845. 


Value of 
Lands and 


Value of 
Personal 


Taxes. 


Buildings 
$62,309 


Property 
$31,149 




Wadsworth, 


$1,424 94 


Sharon, - 


58,112 


19,163 


-1,282 79 


Granger, - 


52,434 


14,776 


1,085 06 


Hinckley, - 


53,110 


16,201 


1,450 56 


Guilford, - 


60,719 


32,215 


1,402 54 


Montville, 


56,139 


18,264 


1,030 50 


Medina, - 


71,314 


36,063 


1,976 18 


Brunswick, 


54,721 


19,563 


1,312 53 


Westfield, 


47,621 


26,152 


1,076 19 


Lafayette, 


44,063 


15,138 


956 44 


York, - 


42,912 


13,954 


869 74 


Liverpool, 


50,735 


18,402 


1,101 20 


Harrisville, - 


46,331 


29,528 


1,159 39 


Chatham, 


42,335 


11,487 


873 79 


Litchfield, - 


40,570 


11,940 


753 14 


Homer, - 


33,710 


11,140 


673 45 


Spencer, - 


38,221 


21,706 


823 65 



Another valuation of real estate being made, and 
many other articles of personal property being, by law, 
brought on duplicate, necessarily makes a much larger 
valuation. Although there are only the same number 
of acres of land it must be remembered that the price 
per acre is greater, and that the erection of comfort- 
able and necessary buildings has increased the value of 
the farms. 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



IT 



Another valuation of real estate being made, and 
many other articles of personal property being, by jaw-, 
brought on duplicate, necessarily makes a much larger 
valuation. Although there are only the same number 
ofacr era of land it must be remembered that the price, 
per acre, is greater, and that the erection of comfort- 
able and necessary buildings has increased the value of 
the farms: 

No. 6. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 

1850. 


Value of 
Lands and 


Value of 
Personal 


Taxes. 




Buildings 


Property 




"Wadsworth, - 


$'271,102 


$77,226 


$2,034 56 


Sharon, - 


244,582 


43,250 


1,728 64 


Granger, - 


172,4:'.0 


48,090 


1,498 14 


Hinckley, 


196,118 


42,222 


1,831 02 


Guilford, - 


240,684 


63,652 


1,991 53 


Montville, 


212,040 


51,870 


1,619 87 


Medina, - 


235,188 


76.846 


2,220 00 


Brunswick, 


191,172 


00,472 


1,787 63 


Westfield, 


195,104 


37,514 


1,296 36 


Lafayette, 


171,404 


35,706 


1,330 45 


York, 


174,200 


33,060 


1,344 74 


Liverpool, 


186,270 


57,368 


1,516 97 


Harrisville, - 


189,254 


73,752 


1,427 95 


Chatham, 


152,100 


44,956 


1,377 55 


Litchfield, 


159,638 


35,550 


1,081 00 


Homer, - 


127,340 


24,208 


947 64 


Spencer, - 


137,976 


41,906 


1,194 66 



18 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



The following table presents a marked increase iii 
the valuation of real estate and double the value of 
personal property. Why the taxes should have more 
than doubled within five years may create suspicions in 
the minds of those who doubt much, yet it is easy to 
demonstrate that the increase of taxes originates in 
townships. Of the taxes reported in the following 
table $7,800 were ordered to be levied by township 
trustees for road purposes : 

No. 7. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 


Value of 
Lands an(: 


Val ne of 
Personal 


Taxes. 


1855. 


Building; 


Property 




Wads worth, - 


$480,544 


p 139,008 


$3,951 14 


Sharon, - 


407,940 


119,432 


3,455 79 


Granger, - 


325,400 


75,474 


2,755 27 


Hinckley, 


340,326 


107,780 


3,511 93 


Guilford, - 


427,348 


195,574 


4,398 16 


Montville, 


366,552 


114,914 


2,858 60 


Medina, 


422,192 


246,398 


5,317 90 


Brunswick, 


333,674 


108,512 


4,047 04 


Westfield, 


325,060 


100,050 


3,108 16 


Lafayette, 


336,738 


90, 1 54 


3291 73 


York, 


335,030 


82,856 


2,823 62 


Liverpool, 


372,118 


144,424 


3,622 72 


Harrisville, - 


185,7+6 


154,048 


3,400 90 


Chatham, 


269,672 


87,884 


2,637 95 


Litchfield, -."'-" 


251,584 


67,928 


2,773 98 


Homer, - 


244,674 


84,490 


2,466 10 


Spencer, - 


282,224 


102,920 


2,6G8 56 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 



19 



This table gives the taxes of 1860, as made out and 
charged against the several townships : 

No. 8. 



NAMES OF TOWNSHIPS, 


Value of 
Lands and 


Value of 
Personal 


Taxes. 


1860. 


Buildings 


Property 




Wadsworth, 


$415,956 


$153,404 


$4,431 07 


Sharon, 


356,386 


129,336 


4,077 87 


Granger, - 


314,508 


104,910 


4,33'} 42 


Hinckley, 


357.092 


100,828 


4,084 19 


Guilford, ... 


405,738 


203,952 


5,485 29 


Montville, 


342,812 


120,740 


4,173 22 


Medina, - 


358,692 


225,012 


6,667 72 


Brunswick, 


321,452 


98,350 


3,934 74 


Westtield, - - 


341,976 


99,184 


3,511 24 


Lafayette, 


304,864 


109,042 


3,439 42 


York, . . - 


251,110 


85,514 


3,158 98 


Liverpool, 


343,190 


109,690 


3,904 5 8 


Harrisville, 


343,666 


156,270 


4,129 09 


Chatham, 


336,550 


129,47C 


4,439 49 


Litchfield, 


283,854 


87,214 


3,850 96 


Homer, 


287,700 


! 4,722 


3,042 13 


Spencer, - 


326,754 


115,766 


3,950 13 



20 COUNTY STATISTICS. 

The following table, compiled from the statistics of 
1850, will give an imperfect estimate of the value of 
the county : 

Value of Lands, - - - - - - $4,732,650 

" Farm Implements and Machinery, - ^'.0,575 

•< Live Stock, -.._.. 762,758 

" Wheat, 132,446 

" Corn, 104,560 

" Oats, -_.___ 41,216 

" Wool, 91,980 

" Potatoes. ---..- 10,644 

11 Orchard Fruits, - 14,800 

" Butter, - 61,880 

" Cheese, 14,800 

* ; Cloverseed, - 15.2G0 

" Maple Sugar, ----- ' 23.866 

" Home Manufactures, - : 6,699 

Making- a total in 1850 of - 6,243.452 

Since that date the increase in value has been 1,248,710 



Making the value in 1860 to be - 7,492,262 

Another item that adds to the yearly wealth is the 
actual value of churches. A list with the value of that 
kind of property is here appended : 

6 Baptist Churches, valued at - $7,000 

11 Congregational Churches, valued at - 12,000 

1 Episcopal " " - - r 2,000 

2 Lutheran " " - - - 800 
18 Methodist « " 9,700 
4 Presbyterian " «■-_.- 5,200 
2 Roman Catholic " " 1,750 
2 Universalist " «» 2,400 



Total value of Church Property - - - 38,850 

Adding the sources enumerated to the untold minor 
founts from which small but continued rills of wealth 
yearly issue, there is no hazard in stating that the wealth 



COUNTY STATISTICS. 21 

of Medina county in 1860 amounts to ten millions. If 
the present generation will carefully reflect upon 'lie 
meagre sources of wealth enjoyed in 1818, and contrast 
them with the present, they must be convinced that 
industry and economy are the channels in which perma- 
nent wealth flows. 



SCHOOLS. 

It is interesting to notice the advances made in the 
cause of Education. Prior to 1836, but little aid ac- 
crued from legal enactments. For a period of 20 years 
the schools were in a great measure sustained by sub- 
scription, and the houses where the children congrega- 
ted rudely constructed. Now, every township is fur- 
nished with educational buildings that give evidence of 
the progress of Christian civilization. 

To show the contrast in this particular between 1818 
and 1860, the following table is compiled: 

Value of School-Houses in 1818, (37 in number,) - $1,480 

" " 1860, (114 in number,) - 34,200 

Amount paid teachers in 1818, - - - 3,700 

" ■« 1860, - 15,208 

No. of youth attending school in 1818, - - 620 

" " ' 1860, - - 4,782 

In addition to the foregoing, there are now in suc- 
cessful progress at least eight High Schools or Acade- 
mies, which are doing a good work for the youth of the 
county. During the Autumn and Winter months, the 
duty of managing the common schools is entrusted to 
males — during Spring and Summer, to females. 



22 



COUNTY STATISTICS* 



INCREASE OF POPULATION, 



The correct number of inhabitants in each township 
in 1818 can only be learned from persons then residents, 
but it is presumed to be tolerably reliable. The pop- 
ulation, by townships, for 1860, is given as returned by 
the Deputy Marshal: 



TOWNSHIPS. 


Population, 
1818. 


Population, 

18(50. 


W adsworth, 






. 


•All 


1,703 


Lafayette, 




- 


- 


91 


1,327 


Montville, 


- 




... 


87 


951 


Medina, 


- 


- 


. 


163 


968 


Medina Vil 


age, 




- 


118 


1,220 


Sharon, 


- 


- 


- 


96 


1,313 


Brunswick, 


• 




- 


167 


1,267 


Liverpool, 




- 


- 


219 


1,891 


Hinckley, 


- 




- 


118 


1,227 


Guilford, 


- 




_ 


209 


1 825 


Westfield, 




- 


- 


79 


1,122 


Harrisville, 






- 


231 


1,226 


Chatham, 




_ 


_ 


107 


1,156 


Spencer, 


- 




- 


81 


1,083 


Horner, 


. 


, 


_ 


72 


993 


Granger, 


- 




- 


184 


1,0^5 


Litchfield, 




- 




96 


1,117 


York, 


- 




- 


124 
~^469~~ 


1.070 


Total, 




- 


■ ■ ' _ 


22,484 



THE FIRST COUET. 



The following narrative is from the pen of Mr. James 
Moore, of Diamond Lake, Illinois, who was for many 
years, prior to his removal, a resident of Medina, and 
was one of the first Pioneers of the Township. 

January 14th, 1818, the county of Medina was set 
apart from Portage county and organized, and, as well 
as I can recollect, provision made for holding court the 
June following; a Barn, erected by Esq. Ferris, within 
the present limits of the corporation, was selected as 
the most suitable place, preparations were made, and 
the scales of Justice were raised, and the rights of the 
straw eating ox for a while were lost in the exaltation 
of his humble stall, where reason and justice were to 
meet. The Court consisted of George Todd, of Trum- 
bull County, as President, Messrs. Harris, of Harris- 
vilie, Brown, of Wadsworth, and Welton, of Richfield,. 
the associate part of the court. On the day appointed 
a full court assembled, and the citizens generally turned 
out to see the working of this intellectual mill. In 
these days men did their own logrolling; we had the 
genuine article then, and enough of it. The Sheriff 
had announced the court as open, and for litigants to 
draw near and they should be heard, but as there was 
nothing to be litigated the court adjourned till next 
day. The day wore away in friendly greetings and so- 
cial chat. The Exodus of the Eastern states was show- 



24 THE FIRST COURT. 

eving in upon us, and the sound of the axe in all direc- 
tions gave evidence of the fact, and after a good supper 
at Esq. Ferris' the Pioneer unlocked his store of adven- 
ture, (to wit;) his deer or wolf hunt, success in treating 
the murrian death, as well as hair breadth escapes from 
falling trees, or an occasional sally from Guy Bough- 
ton, who assured the company that the last freshet in 
Black river had destroyed the nesting places of the 
Bank swallow and left the holes sticking out several 
feet. But time, that waits for no one, brought the 
hour of repose, when some twenty or thirty of us re- 
paired to the barn (Court House) and in military par- 
lance were resting upon our arms when Esq. Ferris with 
lights, decanters, and a reinforcement of several persons 
arrived, and, in the blandest manner possible, observed 
it was with extreme regret he could furnish no better 
lodging but, as it was, he had a great substitute for 
feathers, and invited all who were about to sleep by the 
Job to come forward and take a little comfort from the 
decanters. This advice was considered good, and in a 
short time the decanters were empty, and before the 
Esq. returned with replenished decanters conversation 
had taken a stride, listeners had become speakers, and, 
by the time the decanters had been filled the third time, 
some three or four persons had mounted the Judge's 
table, each a different subject and vociferating at the 
full strength of his lungs. Those on the floor, of more 
humble pretentions, were essaying extempore verse, 
with a full chorus of "One Bottle More," "One Bottle 
More." In this crisis Doct. B. B. Clark, was called in 
professionally, and at once decided that alarming symp- 
toms did show themselves, a mighty disease was in pro- 
gress, and, although local in its inception, would in the 
end prove highly contagious., as well as fatal, as seve- 
ral had already passed into a collapsed state of the dis- 



THE FIRST COURT. 25 

ease. The Doctor recommended tonics in large doses, 
and with two persons at each arm; with one to steady 
the head several potions were given with great effect. 
Several of the patients became skeptical as to the new- 
tonian law of gravitation, for with them the barn (Court 
House,) rocked on its foundation; with others the lights 
mysteriously receded, and sounds fell on the auditory 
that no language can portray. In this distress, as a 
substitute for electricity, a dry cow-skin was procured, 
and several of the patients were elevated some three or 
four feet and suffered to descend by their own weight. 
This had a great effect and was considered at the time 
an improvement in the treatment of this disease. At 
breakfast the next morning several of the worst cases 
were convalescent, a great proof that the treatment was 
based on scientific research, and it was hoped the worst 
was over; but it was whispered at breakfast there had 
been a Riot last night, the peace and dignity of the 
Court and State had been outraged, and something must 
be done as a terror to evil doers ; but on further inqui- 
ry it was^ found that a portion of the Court had strong 
symptoms of the disease, and that a change of venue 
would be awarded the Riotors. You are aware that a 
house divided against itself cannot stand. So ended 
the first Court in the county of Medina. 



THE EAKLY SETTLEKS. 



Ye favored young people, no perils so rare, 

Can the writers of romance ever prepare, 

As those that imperil'd your parents so dear, 

Who came to these wilds when the woods were all here; 

Cast the lords of the forest down to the tomb, 

From hills where your gardens and orchards now bloom ; 

Built up the abodes where in peace you abide, 

And founded the temples 'neath which you reside. 



Privations and hardships, toils and temptations, 
Attended their steps and haunted their stations ; 
Their cattle ran wild in the forest away, 
For the wolves, for bears and for panthers a prey ; 
The wild cat and wolf, the panther and owl, 
Around their rude dwellings at midnight would howl ; 
And serpents most deadly while seeking the sun, 
Would creep out and sleep on their thresholds at noon. 



THE EARLY SETTLERS. 27 

A few of the Fathers so nohle and brave, 
Are still lingering with us this side of the grave, 
And we to their deeds a just tribute would pay, 
E're they from our presence have all passed away; 
The signet of truth in their life is set well, 
Or we could not believe the stories they tell 
Kespecting the changes that around them appear, 
Wrought out from the forest that they once saw here : 



And we question if they can fully believe, 
The things that their senses so fully perceive. 
Let them look at highways now leading about, 
In contrast with the roads on which they came out, 
Winding out then in a single direction ; 
.Running round now to ev'ry mile section ; 
Guided then by spots on the trees blazed awide ; 
Guarded now by fences along either side. 

Then full of turns, roots and holes, everywhere : 
Now, straight, well bridged, cast up and graded with care; 
Now, the carriage with wheels glides smoothly away ; 
Then, 'twas lifting, tipping and plunging all day : 
Now, straight, smooth iron roads are much in employ ; 
Then, our mi'ry swamps were bridged with corduroy ; 
Then, ten miles a days was oft with hardship won ; 
Now, five hundred miles a day are easy run. 



28 THE EARLY SETTLERS. 

Then, the household came West with oxen for team ; 
Now, horses of iron bring whole hamleis by steam : 
Then, letters were brought by codgers in their shoes ; 
Now, outspeeding light, the lightning brings us news; 
Then, rocky New England, the land of their birth 
Seemed lost in the distance far o'er the broad earth ; 
Now, a few hours ride brings her hills into view, 
And restores them to scenes their infancy knew. 

Then, scarce a dwelling by the wayside appeared ; 
Now, hamlet and cot on all sides are reared. 
Then, not a free school in the region was found ; 
Now, thousands of schools in the country abound : 
Then, not a church appeared in the forest forlorn ; 
Now, hundreds of temples our hill sides adorn : 
Then, not a trader life's comforts exchanged here ; 
Now, millions of treasures are changed every year. 

Then, the Early Settler was deemed half mad or wild, 
Now 'tis famous to be an early settler's child : 
Then, Emigrants in burlesque hung in Eastern halls ; 
Now portraits of our veteran settlers grace those walls ; 
Then they said, go and come again in rags forlorn ; 
Now they say, send us wheat and wool and fruit and corn; 
Then men went back and said this was a cursed state ; 
Now Heaven and Earth proclaim it both good and great; 



THE EARLY SETTLERS, 29 

Now, Fathers, in view of these contrasts, can you 
Comprehend the change in this country so new? 
Are you the men that in young manhood came here 
This wilderness world of its wildness to clear? 
Does your reason retain your identity fast 
Amid all the changes through which you have past? 
Can your memory recall the work of each year, 
Since you came to this land a rough pioneer ? 

But who can describe all the hues of your care, 
As you struggle in want, almost in dispair, 
To shelter, feed and clothe your family charge, 
And shield them from evils that threaten at large : 
Who can describe the patient toils of the wife, 
The stitches and tables she's set in her life : 
The cares of the mother what pen can portray, 
Wearing, grinding her heart, by night and by day. 

The steps and strokes required the household to rear, 
Can only be told when books from Heaven appear. 
Husbands, love your wives, the Holy*Scripture saith : 
Look at your wife as she toils from breath to breath ; 
Once a day she's swept your house and made your bed; 
Three times a day food prepared and table spread : 
Three times a day dishes brought your meals to grace ; 
Three times a day dishes washed and put in place. 



30 THE EARLY SETTLERS. 

Day after day to the milk and butter seen ; 
Week after week she's washed your floors and linen clean; 
Mop't the floors in spots, perhaps ten times as oft ; 
Spun and wove, may be, most of your raiments soft : 
Made and patched your shirts and pants, coat and vest : 
The sheets and quilts with which your couch is drest : 
Knit and darned your socks with stitch and step beside, 
Toiling breath by breath some comfort to provide. 

But now her step is feeble, and her head is white, 
And still your highest comfort is her delight : 
Two score years perhaps and ten she's been your wife, 
Your delight the greatest comfort of her life : 
More than eighteen thousand times she's made your bed, 
And fifty -four thousand times your table spread ; 
Sadly watched your couch in weary hours of pain, 
Gladly seen you rise to health and strength again. 

Now what poet can describe or ready writer tell, 
The hoping and fearing, seeing and hearing, 
Seeking and finding, loosing and binding, 
Wooing and wedding, quilting and bedding, 
Spinning and weaving, coming and leaving, 
Wearing and tearing, dividing and sharing, 
Patching and mending, calling and sending, 
The borrowing and lending. 



THE EARLY SETTLERS. 31 

The staying and going, knitting and sewing, 
Washing and baking, sweating and shaking, 
Toasting and stewing, roasting and brewing, 
Toasting and smelling, buying and selling, 
Grinding and sifting, tugging and lifting, 
Skimming and churning, greasing and turning, 
Stirring and beating, cooling and eating, 
Setting and cleaning. 

The slashing and logging, ditching and bogging, 
Shifting and turning, piling and burning, 
Digging and hoeing, plowing and sowing, 
Threshing and reaping, carting and heaping, 
Stocking and seeding, mowing and feeding, 
Hewing and scoring, marking and boring, 
Loading and drawing, planing and sawing, 
The salving and swathing, nursing and bathing. 

The sobbing and sighing, laughing and crying, 
Hugging and squeezing, tewing and teasing, 
Telling and teaching, singing and preaching, 
The scolding and spanking, the praying and thanking, 
And many other things beyond my power to name, 
That with the founding of these loving households came; 
I ask you all ye living men, what pen can tell, 
The toils and cares that on these households fell. 



BRUNSWICK. 



BY EPHRAIM LINDLEY. 

In giving a detail of my pioneer life I may use 
words that may seem strange, perhaps offensive, to 
many of the present day. I was not raised in the lap 
of plenty nor educated in the school of refinement. I 
was born in Ira, Rutland county, Vermont, in 179G. 
In 1803 my father moved to Bristol, Hartford county, 
Connecticut, to take charge of the farm of his aged 
and infirm parents — a region of country once noted for 
clock-making and various other arts carried on by ma- 
chinery. While living at Bristol I commenced attending 
school, and to give some idea of my young thounghts 
on good manners, I will relate a school adventure. A 
boy called Charles Bartholomew, during the absence of 
the teacher from the schoolroom, thought proper to 
leave his seat and come and sit ^facing me in what I 
considered a very saucy manner. Feeling my dignity 
insulted by his continued gaze, and believing him to be 
a violator of good order and of the rules of the school, 
in the absence of the teacher, I laid down my book, 
walked up to Charles, gave him a severe slap on the 
side of the head and authoritatively ordered him to 
return to his seat and attend to his studies. Soon the 
teacher came in and seeing Charles crying inquired the 
cause. Being informed that that new scholar (meaning 



BRUNSWICK. 33 

me,) had slapped him because he had neglected his 
studies, the teacher kindly addressed herself to me and 
informed me that it was contrary to the rules of her 
school for one scholar \p correct another, and I got 
clear of correction under the plea that I was new. Once 
I saw a great gnat biting a comrade in school, and 
feeling full of sport I raised my hand, aimed a blow at 
the gnat with the force that felled my schoolmate to 
the floor. Upon being interrogated why I struck the 
boy, my answer was, that I would not stand still and 
see such a contemptible little insect as a gnat sucking 
blood from a comrade without using means to kill it. 
My laconic answer shielded me, that time, from merited 
chastisement. 

After the decease of my grandfather and the appor- 
tionment of his estate among heirs, my father was per- 
suaded by my uncle, Eliada Lindley, to move to Ohio. 
On 4th July, 1811, we left. Bristol. We had an ox 
team headed by one horse. We toiled and traveled over 
rough roads, mud, and the many obstacles that had then 
to be encountered, until we .came to the Cataraugus 
Swamp, where we were compelled to hire an additional 
force of horses, and a man to drive. Though the dis- 
tance across that swamp was only four miles, yet we 
were a whole day getting over. After a toilsome jour- 
ney of two months we arrived at Hudson. 

Soon after our arrival in the then wilderness, intel- 
ligence of war greeted our ears often and sadly. After 
the surrender of Hull, many were forced to prepare for 
the tented field, who were very poorly supplied with 
the necessaries of life. The whole country was new — 
provisions were scarce and very high in price, and la- 
borers few. Danger and privation were dreaded and 
experienced. Salt, one of the real necessities, was high 
in price and very scarce. A neighbor had been at 
5 



34 BRUNSWICK. 

Liverpool and had got all the salt he contracted for 7 
except one peck, which he said my father might have 
if he would send for it. The offer was considered a 
great accomodation, and my father selected me as the 
person who should go to Liverpool, a distance of 25 
miles, for the peck of salt. I was then 16 years old. 
An empty sack was got, in which was stowed bread and 
wild meat, and on a cold blustering morniDg in the 
month of December, 1813, 1 left Hudson for Liverpool. 
There was a blazed road from Hudson to Richfield. 
From thence I had to go to the north line of the town- 
ship, and from thence find my way by blazed trees to 
Timothy Doan's, in Columbia. Between the house of 
widow Payne (Brecksville) and Mr. Doan's was an un- 
broken wilderness of 15 miles, excepting the blazed line 
made by surveyors. My first day's travel brought me 
to the cabin of Mrs.. Payne. On the second day I got 
to Liverpool Salt works, took possession of the peck of 
salt and learned that I could buy another peck which 
I willingly purchased. I shouldered my half bushel 
of salt on the afternoon of the second day, and with 
elastic step started, homeward bound. The second 
night I tarried at the house of Horace Gunn, who lived 
near Thos. Doan's. Liverpool salt dripped much, and 
my own exercise causing sweat, the two came in con- 
tact and kept me uncomfortable. The next morning 
after leaving Mr. Gunn's, I had to repass through the 
15 miles of continued wilderness, with a short allowance 
of bread, laded with a half bushel of wet salt: The 
snow was about four inches in depth. After I had 
passed over about two miles of my lonely forest road 
I met a company of wolves, who seemed to be on the 
track I made when going to Liverpool. In passing 
along, I discovered that they followed, though at re- 
spectful distance. There were five in number, and 



BRUNSWICK. 35 

their frequent stopping and pawing in. the snow caused 
me to conjecture that they meditated an attack. I fur- 
nished myself with a - stout club and felt determined to 
tree and fight if they should attack me. After follow- 
ing for a distance of five miles or more they left keeping 
company and I traveled on very well satisfied with their 
absence. I am of the opinion that the bitterings of 
the salt and my own sweat was what they scented and 
prompted them to follow me. I got home safely with 
what remained of my half bushel of salt after a full 
share of bitterings had eked out. This was my first 
important errand, and I can assure you that I then 
traveled that distance and carried the salt more willingly 
than a young man of 16 years will now carry a half 
bushel of potatoes from the grocery to his home.' 



EAELY SETTLERS. 



Solomon Harvey, James Stearn and Henry Parker 
were the first settlers in Brunswick in the months of 
October and November, 1815. Shortly after, Samuel 
Tillotson and family came in. The next was W. P. 
Stevens and family. On March 4, 1815, Solomon and 
Frederick Deniing with their families settled. During 
the summer of the same year, John Hulet, Seymour 
Chapin, John Stearn, Andrew Deming and Henry 
Bogue with their families came in. In 1817, Jacob 
Ward, Rhoda Stowe, Harvey Stebbins, John Freese, B. 
W. Freese, W. Root, Seth 'Blood, L.Thayer, P. Clark, 
Peter, John and A. Berdan and others came and settled 
in various parts of the township. In 1818, the noise 
of the axe could be heard during the hours of labor 
in various parts of the township, and the smoke rising 



36 BRUNSWICK. 

from the hastily constructed cabins gave proof that 
settlements were rapidly increasing. The hum of in- 
dustry could be heard and seen as the wilderness grad- 
ually yielded. 



DEATHS OF EARLY SETTLERS. 



Of those who braved the toils and privations incident 
to a Pioneer life, and who aided each other in making 
the full sunshine upon the long bedimmed surface the 
following are deceased : 

George W. Baldwin and wife, 
C. Stearns " " 

Seymour Knox " " 

Darius Francis " " 

Peter Berdan " " 

Frederick Root " " 

Of those enumerated among the early marriages, the 
following, at the close of more than 40 years, are still 
husband and wife. To them it is a pleasure to see the 
changes that have taken place since they wedded : 

Abram Freese and wife, 

Ephraim Lindley" " 

James Stearns " " 

Daniel Stearns " " 

Harvey Stebbins " " 
Jacob Ward 

Isaac Ward " " 

Horace Root " " 
Wm. Root 

From these aged individuals the inquirers after the 
history of the first settlers can gather information that 
would be perused with interest fifty years hence. They 



BRUNSWICK. 37 

are the living witnesses of occurrences worthy of 
record. 



DIED AT A GOOD OLD AGE. 



To give evidence that industry and daily toil tends 
not to cut short our days, I here give names and age 
of Pioneer Fathers and mothers. Those of the first 
settlers yet living can attest the truth of my remark 
when they read the names. 

John Ward, deceased at the age of 92 years, 
Elizabeth Ward " " 89 " 

John Stearns " " 92 " 

Lucy Stearns " " 76 " 

W.P.Stearns " " 87 " 

Lydia Stearns " " 69 " 

Persis Kingsbury " " 65 " 

. Samuel Tillotson " " 91 " 

Sarah Tillotson " " 77 " 

• Solomon Deming " " 85 " 

Roxanna Deming " " 66 " 

JohnHulet " " 86 " 

Ephraim Fletcher " " 74 " 

Jabez Kingsbury « " 80 " 

Daniel Bogue " " 72 ". 

Making an average age of 80 years to each one nam- 
ed. It is not probable that any fourteen descendants of 
those named will, when deceased, be able to have it 
noted that they had lived so long. The increase of 
idleness and the various and varied kind of dissipation 
adopted and practised must enfeeble and shorten life. 
Industry is a physician that produces health, creates 
wealth, secures comfort, dispels gloom and lengthens 



38 . BRUNSWICK. 

life. Indole 
shorten life. 



life. Indolence brings want, discontent, and tends to 



BUSYING GROUND. 



Capt. John Stearns, who was the owner of about 
thirteen hundred acres of land, being advanced in years 
and wishing to provide for the future, generously do- 
nated two acres to be used as a Burying Ground for 
the township, and requested the citizens to meet and 
clear off a portion of the lot, that it might be used for 
that purpose when needed. The citizens generally 
sanctioned the proposition, and ■ soon was heard the 
sound of axe and falling of forest trees. -In a few days 
a portion was cleared, and now is the resting place of 
many, young and old, who once lived. In that lot the 
bodies of the first resident settlers were one after anoth- 
er deposited, and here and there can be read upon head- 
stones the names of many who once labored actively 
to tame the wilderness. 



For several years prior to the erection of Medina 
county, the establishment of roads was unsettled. Each 
settler undertook to make a road to suit his own con- 
venience, and not unfrequently he joined with his next 
neighbor, in opening a way that could be of mutual 
advantage. The making of bridges generally called 
together the whole force of the then sparse community, 
and many days would be wholly devoted to construct 



BRUNSWICK. 3d 

a bridge that would probably be carried away by a 
succeeding freshet. After the organization of the 
county, small appropriations were made for opening 
roads and making bridges. As cash was then scarce, a 
man would work at road-making from rising to setting 
sun for fifty cents and board himself. 

It was much easier to get timber necessary for a 
bridge to the allotted spot than to get. the logs placed. 
Ox teams were used in hauling, but rendered little aid 
in placing timbers. .Rocky River was the largest 
stream meandering through several of the newly settled 
townships, and the intercourse between small settle- 
ments forced the inhabitants, as a matter of convenience, 
to decide upon places and unitedly aid in building 
bridges for general accommodation. Many of the first 
settlers spent days at their own expense and did not 
consider it oppressive. It was no uncommon act to see 
all the men in a community congregated early, and 
without stockings or shoes, laboring all day in water 
fixing abutments and placing the long heavy stringers 
thereon. As puncheons were used for flooring in 
nearly every dwelling, they were considered equally 
good for bridging. No saw-mills were erected when 
settlements first commenced, therefore the necessity of 
using puncheon and clapboards. It is not hazardous 
to say that in 1815 and for five years thereafter, five 
men actually performed more labor on roads than 
twenty men did in 1860. Necessity forced them to be 
industrious and their future prospects urged them to 
labor. It was not unusual for the men, while engaged 
in putting up a bridge, to see their wives issuing from 
the wilderness from various directions, laded with cooked 
provisions intended for those employed in bridge-mak- 
ing. It was uot unusual for the mothers in the days 
of first settling to travel two or three miles laded with 



40 BRUNSWICK. 

provisions for their husbands who would necessarily 
lose time if compelled to go to their dwellings for their 
dinners. The present generation would consider such 
an undertaking too wearisome and too hazardous. Few 
of the modern females would be willing to travel three 
or four miles to hunt the cows once -each day,' as was 
the practice among the families of early settlers. 

In my details of the first openings and settlements 
made in the township of Brunswick, I may wholly fail 
to please those who feed on refined literature. It has 
always been my fortune (some would say misfortune) 
to gain a competence by industry, and to be measurably 
deprived of spending much time in reading. I have 
enjoyed a full share of the toils of life without many 
of the luxuries. 



FIRST ELECTION. 

On 6th April, 1818, the first election was held and 
the following comprised all the legal voters then in the 
township, to wit: John Stearns, Solomon Deming, John 
Hulet, Harvey Stebbins, Jacob Ward, Thomas Stearns, 
Andrew Deming, Joel Curtis, Elijah Hull, Henry 
Bogue, Ephraim Lindley, James Stearns, George J. 
Baldwin, Solomon Harvey, Horace Root, Darius Fran- 
cis, Henry Parker, Daniel Stearns and John Hulet, Jr. 
Nineteen votes were polled that day, and it Was consid- 
ered a large election. 

John Hulet, John Stearns and Solomon Deming 
were elected trustees ; Darius Francis, Treasurer ; 
Henry Parker, Constable ; John Stearns and Jacob 
Ward, Justices of the Peace. 



BRUNSWICK. 41 

Nearly all the parents who first settled in the town- 
ship had been members of some one of the christian 
churches in their native State, which they failed not to 
exhibit and practice in their wilderness cabins. Sec- 
tarian feelings were not cherished as now ; but when 
Sabbath came. Episcopalians. Congregationalists, Meth- 
odists and other denominations united and held religious 
meetings. At the first religious meetings, citizens 
from Liverpool and Brunswick united. When meeting 
was held at William Warner's cabin, Justus Warner, 
who was an Episcopalian, took the lead in meeting, and 
when in Brunswick the leader of religious exercises 
was of the Methodist or Congregational denomination. 
Generally the small family dwelling was filled with those 
who revered the sabbath and church duties. The ex- 
ercises commenced with singing, in which all took part, 
and were able to keep time and sing in unison without 
jthe aid of organ or other musical instrument.- After 
singing, prayer devout and fervent was offered, then a 
sermon was read, one or more exhorted, then closed by 
singing. Many of those who witnessed those religious 
exercises in the then wilderness cannot have forgotten 
the zeal, the good feelkig, the solemnity that was ap- 
parent. God smiled graciously on the first settlers and 
conferred upon them many and rich blessings while 
employed in rearing homes in the then wilderness. At 
the sabbath prayer-meetings there was a marked rever- 
ence and not a few can date back to those times and 
places their first and lasting religious impression. It 
was at one of those meetings the writer of this narra- 
tive felt convinced of his sins and resolved thereafter 
to seek', by intercession, the pardon of his sins and 
live a new life. With pleasure, thankfulness and 
gratitude he looks back to the time when God, by his 
Spirit, showed to him the beauty of the christian religion 
6 



42 BRUNSWICK. 

CAN A BUILDING BE RAISED WITHOUT WHISKEY ? 

In pioneer days it was a universal practice to furnish 
whiskey at house or barn raisings ; and though few 
drank to excess, yet at raisings, ministers, deacons and 
church-members would participate in drinking, and not 
^infrequently one or more could be seen staggering and 
not fully able to set and keep their feet properly. Capt. 
John Stearns had got every thing in readiness and had 
fixed upon a day to raise his new barn, when it was 
discovered that no whiskey could be bought or even 
borrowed in the township, and more unfortunate still, 
that none could be had nearer than Talmadge. To go 
to that place and return would require two days. Mr. 
Stearns made known the matter to some of his neigh- 
bors who told him that under the present circumstances ' 
they thought perhaps the barn might be raised, though 
they could not fully approve of his course in not seeing 
about the whiskey sooner. On the day appointed, the- 
people assembled, went to work, raised the barn and 
from that circumstance made the wise discovery that a 
building could be safely and speedily built without the 
use of whiskey. 



FIRST SLEIGHING VISIT. 



The young folks in Brunswick desiring to form the 
acquaintance of those of their age in other townships, 
concluded to visit the family of Rufus Ferris, who then 
lived north from the present County seat. Each young 
man got his female partner, and rigging jumpers made 
of long poles that answered for runners and thills, we 
fastened on a few boards on which we sat and traveled. 
Our road was marked out by blazed trees. We started 



BRUNSWICK. 43 

from what is now Brunswick center, and following the 
blazed trees we got to Weymouth safely ; from thence 
by some kind of marks we got to the Joseph Northrop 
farm where we crossed Rocky River and from there to 
the cabin of Rufus Ferris. We tarried there engaged 
in youthful sport until a late hour, and then started 
home by the same road we had got there. A whole 
night was spent in paying that visit. We then had no 
buffalo robes to protect us from the storm. A bed quilt 
was the traveling robe used in those days, and while 
thus clad, the young ladies of those days considered 
themselves fashionably protected against inclemency of 
the season. A log across our path was not considered 
an obstacle of great moment, neither did we consider 
it a great detriment if hats or bonnets were taken from 
our heads by hanging limbs. We considered the dis- 
tance from Brunswick by way of Weymouth, to the 
residence of Mr. Ferris but a short distance, and while 
there partaking of his hospitality we considered our- 
selves well accommodated if chairs could be furnished 
for one-half of our company. We went to pay a friendly 
visit, not to seek out matters about which to sneer 
thereafter. We were one portion of a wilderness fam- 
ily going in kindness to visit another. Our meetings 
in those times, were characterized by friendship and 
solicitude for each other's welfare and comfort. 



CHURCH OEGANIZATONS; 



Although no original records exist, there are living 
witnesses to testify that the Methodist Episcopal Church 
organized in April, 1817, and that Jacob Ward was 
instrumental in procuring the organization. The first 
members of that church were Jacob Ward, Rhoda 



44 BRUNSWICK. 

Stowe, John and Lucy Stearns, John and Hannah 
Hulet, Samuel and Sarah Tillotson, Thomas and Phebe 
Stearns, Polly Harvey, Lydia Crittenden and Olivia 
Ashley. The last two named then resided in Grafton, 
the others resided in Brunswick. Of the first found- 
ers, of that church the following yet live : Jacoh Ward, 
Hannah Unlet and Mrs. Hurlbcrt (formerly Lydia 
Crittenden.) 

The Congregational Church was organized Febuary 
19, 1819, by Reverends Simeon Woodruff and William 
Hanford. then acting missionaries. The names of 
those who united at the organization were Jabez and 
Persis Kingsbury, Andrew Deming, Fredrick Deming, 
Roxanua Deming, William P. and Lydia Stearns, Geo. 
J. and Nancy Baldwin, Lydia Woodbridge and Clarissa 
Stearns. Of the above not one is now living. 

It was the general practice for all to be seen at one 
church when there failed to be preachers, on the same 
day, for each denomination. Disputations on doctrin- 
al points were few and far between among the members 
of those churches. The gospel was preached and lis- 
tened to, with due attention. All were neighbors, 
friends and brethren. The Episcopal Methodist's erec- 
ted the first meeting-house, the Congregationalism the 
second. As the members of each denomination had 
often prayed together, and often listened to the same 
preacher; with the same christian feeling they mutu- 
ally aided each other in erecting church 'edifices. 



SCHOOL HOUSES. 



The first school house was erected on the west line 
of Brunswick in order to give accommodation to fami- 
lies in Liverpool township. Sarah Tillotson was the 



BRUNSWICK. 4S 

teacher, and her school in 1817 numbered 16 scholars. 
The second school house was built one-fourth of a mile 
west from the center, in the fall of 1817, and Col. John 
Freese was the teacher during the following winter. 
The third public building was built, by subscription, of 
hewed timber at (he center, and was used for school, 
religious and town purposes. Could the young stu- 
dents of this day he permitted to look back forty years 
and view the narrow paths that led to the school houses 
where their fathers and mothers congregated, the rude 
building in which they, when children assembled, the 
rough and uncomfortable seats, the puncheon floor and 
the dim lights afforded, he would certainly be led to 
ask himself who accomplished the great change between 
w,0tt£and fhni? No greater evidence of progress can 
be seen than to contrast "the present educational facili- 
ties with those that the first settlers possessed. What 
great, profitable and good changes may not t;ike place 
in the coming forty years if untiring perseverance be 
exercised, and our aim to elevate be observed? 



LOUNGERS. 



In pioneer days there were neither loungers nor 
lounging places. Every person, young or old had 
some profitable employment in which to engage. There 
were no groups of the idle or indolent to be seen stand- 
ing or sitting at corners or stores, taverns or groceries. 
For many years after the first settlers eame, in smokers 
of cigar or pipe were seldom seen. If the last ten 
years had been as profitably employed as were the first 
ten years from and after the first openings made by the 
original settlers, an improvement would have been 



46 BRUNSWICK. 

made in morals, in physical power, in agriculture and 
in wealth. Degeneracy, in many things, has taken the 
place of refinement, and many, too many, are reared 
wholly untrained in any useful, necessary or profitable 
employment. To make a contrast I will, in old fash- 
ioned poetry, give you a description of a modern 
lounger : 



Our now-a-day loungers I'll describe, now I'm for it, 
And in doing the same I'll ask them no pay for it; 
If I charged them Dr., I should suffer a loss, 
For the scamps are too mean to pay what it costs. 
To tell you the truth, and just where you'll find them, 
Get on to their track and keep close behind them. 

Jim starts in the morning, says, to-day, I must work, 
But when he gets to the ''corners" he's seized with a jerk, 
Of the mind and the will to the tavern to go, 
(For he's too ill to work and he'll tell you so,) 
And turning the corner marches on to the door, 
Finds Tom, Dick and Harry, and of such a few more, 
Who are all of a stripe, and who all jerked together, 
With ailments alike for all seasons or weather. 

Now Tom says to Jim, You're the last one come in, 
It is your treat; come, bring in your gin : 
But Jim says to Tom, I am strapt of a dime, 
So you pay for it now, I will the next time. 



BRUNSWICK. 47 

But Tom says to Jim, I'm as poor off as Dick, 

Who has been here before to-day and lives upon trick. 

But some how or other they all get a drink, 

Which make the eyes glimmer, you see by their wink. 

All say, Mr. Landlord* let us have a cigar, 

We see you have plenty of such things to spared 

Now keep a good lookout and you will discover 
There is a fire at one end, and drunk fools at the other; 
And to tell you the fact without any joke, 
Their mouths are the chimneys that draw off the smoke, 
And the longer they suck them, 'tis just as one s'poses, 
Their cigars shorten up till they heat their red noses. 
Having shortened their fuel to about an inch long, 
They then are prepared for a chat or a song, 
But before they commence they have an instinct, 
They can do nothing right without more to drink. 
From smoking they say they feel themselves thirsty, 
From drinking again they feel themselves lusty ; 
And having secured more of the good creature, 
Are now qualified to be each other's teacher ; 
And the feats of such loungers proves to us very clear 
Where rum takes the lead the men have no fear. 

Now each can tell over what feats he has done, 
How wealth has poured in — how poor he begun. 
In politics too they talk mighty brave, 
Say the nation without them its union can't save. 



4* BRUNSWICK. 

They build mighty rail-roads, and ride the world ovGr, 
Get on at one end, and get oft' at the other, 
Can tell what they saw in Paris or London, 
And know all the streets in Moscow or Canton, 
They helpt lay the telegraph under the ocean, 
Turned the world upside down and set all in commotion, 
Esteeming themselves the best of men, 
Nothing great could be done without them. 



But when you look on them and see their ill features, 

You see only disgust wrapt up in such creatures, 

And to speak the fact, they're a mean breed of brothers, 

Born out of due time, almost without mothers, 

And wherever they go they hatch up a muss, 

And wherever they stay they're a curse. 

Their influence is evil on the young and the old, 

And the mischief they do can hardly be told, 

And to sum up the matter and give no abuse, 

Unless they reform they will generate nuisance. 

Xf you follow their track and keep close behind them, 

About as I have stated, I think you can find them. 

And now please to pardon the pioneer digression; 
For the good of our country I have given expression 
That those who come after, bad example may shun, 
And be saved from disgrace, or the ruin of rum. 



BRUNSWICK. 49 

THE PAST. 

The few roads were then muddy, rough and crooked, 

Used seldom by teams, but frequently footed, 

Our swales and our swamps with cross-logs were laid, 

With chinking between covered with dirt by a spade. 

We wound up the hills by blazes on trees, 

As best we could and with the most ease. 

'Twas sometimes with horses, but often with oxen, 

Our necessaries hauled, our carriages broken. 

And sometimes endangered by the swelling flood, 

Or the team and the axle would wallow in mud, 

And thus pressing team with toil all the day 

From five to ten miles advanced on our way. 

Our mail matters then were placed in a sack, 
And laid on a man to lug on his back. 
And to pick his way best you would think by his track, 
Went this way and that way, likea horse that did rack. 
Our four horse' teams, then, if they hauled a ton, 
Thro' the rough road and mud 'twas tlio't had well done. 
Then in a log stable, straw and provender before them, 
For feed and for rest their strength to restore them, 
Then for their drink used the cool running water, 
Or through ice cut a hole to dip in their snorter. 
Their harness was then made of leather to the tug, 
Which would glisten like oil made out of mud. 
Their bodies composed of bone, flesh, and skin, 
7 



50 BRUNSWICK. 

Fit subjects for swarms of flies their blood to drain. 

Our meadows were mown by scythe and rough snath, 
Our boys then spread grass with a fork or a staff. 
When our hay became dry, and some signs of a shower, 
Then boys, girls, and mothers raked by the hour. 
Our harvest then gathered with sickle in hand, 
One clip at a time till none was left to stand. 
And other things then worked after such a fashion, 
Toil hard, was the word, but don't get in a passion* 



THE PAST— THE PKESENT. 



And now, fellow mortals, by way of reflection, 

Let our minds run back to past recollection, 

When the wilderness flourished unbroken by man, 

When owls sang by night, and wild beasts freely ran, 

When the Eed man roamed o'er hill, vale and plain, 

With his weapon in hand, in quest of wild game; 

When the sound of the gospel had not reached his ear, 

When civilization was far in the rear, 

When the ox or the cow had not served their part, 

In giving man food or in drawing the cart. 

No genius to sweep off the wilderness waste, 

To form fruitful fields, or supply in its place 

The vine and the fruit tree, the flocks and the herds; 

No cities with presses to issue forth words, 



BRUNSWICK. 51 

To spread forth the news and enlighten the minds, 
But the savage in darkness dwelt here in those times. 

Wise men from the East soon sought out the way 
To the Star of the West to carry their sway, 
In the arts and in science of civilized life, 
Expelling the darkness of wildness and strife. 
With much toil and hardship o'er a long, rough road 
They sought out their way#o make their abode, 
Where the wild beasts and savages together run wild, 
And the church bell and Sabbath never had smiled. 

Now in came the Gospel refulgent with light, 
To chase out the darkness and bring to their sight, 
The endearments resulting from civilization, 
And plant in the wild a God-fearing nation. 
Their God is their trust; as saints they adore him. 
The wilderness falls and the fields rise before them ; 
The promising harvests tossed by breezes do wave, 
All the wants are supplied that the appetite crave. 
Our flocks and our herds our hills they adorn, 
While our valleys still yield an abundance of corn. 
The schools, academies and colleges combined, 
Give proper instruction and expand the mind. 
Our churches are reared with spires pointing to heaven 
From which learned pastors pour fourth gospel leaven, 
Which raises dull minds from low grounds of sadness, 
To those fairer climes in the high plains of gladness, 



62 BRUNSWICK. 

Where may we all anchor in that haven of rest, 
Prepared to meet God and dwell with the blest. 



THE PRESENT. 

Our roads are now graded, blazed trees have retired, 
Our forests have faded and our swamps have dried. 
We now pass in safety ove^ permanent bridges, 
And our valleys are passed by grading the ridges. 
Our teamsters now travel full three times the distance, 
With three times the load, with far less resistance. 
And now in our meadows we'll just take a peep, 
And see the man ride his scythe, perhaps half asleep. 
But look how the grass falls all perfectly spread, 
Ten acres each day he lays prostrate 'tis said, 
But once do look, there is no mistake, 
You see the man lazily riding his rake ; 
And yet, slowly riding, his hay comes together. 
All these we now do without lifting a feather. 
Another thing now-a-days, the fools it may tickle, 
For the lazy old scamp is now riding his sickle, 
And by the exertion of merely a motion, 
See grain cut and gathered and laid to his notion. 
Should inventions improve as we're inclined to be led 
We will soon use a machine to ride us to bed. 
But one thing's desired, yet almost without hope, 
That we have a machine to help us to get up. 



BRUNSWICK. 
BRUNSWICK STATISTICS, 1861. 



53 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 


Number. 


Value. 


Horses, - - - - 


50T 


$24,392 


Cattle, " .*- 


1.740 


21,205 


£heep, ------ 


5,320 


8,077 


Hogs. ------ 


485 


1,850 


Carriages, ------ 


275 


6,531 


Appei'taining to Merchandise, - 




1,800 


Appertaining to Manufactories, -. . - 




2,053 


Moneys and Credits, - - - - 




18,967 


"Wheat, bushels, - 


6,456 


6,456 


Corn, « 


49,581 


14,895 


Putter, pounds, - 


61,669 


6,150 


Cheese, ------- 


54,420 


3,800 


Oats, Grass seeds, and Potatoes, 




4,780 


Products of Orchards and Gardens, - 




3,270 


Yearly value of township, - - - 




$124,226 



CHATHAM. 

Although the county was organized in 1813, it is 
worthy of being observed that settlements did not com- 
mence in every township simultaneously. Mankind 
are not inclined to live remote from each other ; on the 
contrary, those who were born and reared in the same 
region, generally seek after and associate together. 
And in peopling a new country the timidity and the 
friendship of the female sex for near neighbors often 
induces families to settle near each other. 

Chatham township was organized Dec. 5, 1833. The 
first township officers were Nedabiah Cass, Joel Lyon, 
and Irani Packard, trustees. At the first election there 
were only eleven voters, to wit : Gay lord C. Warner, 
Joel Lyon, Nedabiah Cass, Moses Parsons, Barney 
Daniels, Amasa Packard, Ebenezar Shaw, Amos Utter, 
Iram Packard, Harvey Edwards and Thomas F. Pal- 
mer. Six of which in 1861, are yet residents in the 
township. 

The first election for Justice of the Peace was in 
May, 1835. Orin Shaw and Thomas F. Palmer were 
opposing candidates. Mr. Shaw had one vote majority. 
Moses Parsons and Thomas F. Palmer contested that 
election. A trial of strength of influence was had a 
second time, which being illegal was set aside. A new 
election was ordered. Orin Shaw and Amasa Packard 
Jr., were the opposing candidates, and Shaw was elected 
by a majority of two votes. Politics was not known 
in the strife ; other causes fired the friends of each to 
array themselves against each other. 



CHATHAM. 55 

The first school was taught in a private dwelling in 
the fall of 1833 by Verta Richards, since deceased. 
The pupils at that school were Lydia, Chloe, Eliza and 
Joseph Palmer. Celia, Emeline Richards, Catharine, 
Polly and Cornelia Packard, Mary, Orin and Alfred 
Shaw and Catharine Frazell. 



VISITING PARTY. 



A party of what might be called at that time young 
folks, made the necessary arrangements to visit their 
acquaintances in Harris ville. The day came and all 
congregated, dressed in the then best style to go in 
company. Two choice pair'of oxen were j^ked, sleds 
were filled with clean straw, quilts were spread to pre- 
vent straw-beards from sticking to their choice calico 
or flannel dresses, and they started off at a good ox- 
trot on their visit. At that date it was considered a 
great convenience to have an ox team in which to travel, 
and no female considered her fashionable dignity insul- 
ted by riding in an ox sled or wagon. 



FTEST MARRIAGE. 



The first couple married were Henry K. Joline and 
Eleanor Parsons, in 1820, and thirteen years prior to 
the organization of the township. A messenger trav- 
eled through to Sullivan, a distance of fourteen miles 
without any horse, and piloted Esquire Close through 
the woods to Chatham to tie the marriage knot. When 
Esq. Close started for Sullivan, he came to the sage 
conclusion to go the trail to Harrisville and from there 
by another trail tojjhis home, rather than to venture 
fourteen miles travel through woods. 



56 CHATHAM. 

The first child born was Samuel H. Parsons. 

Moses Parsons was the first settler, and made the 
first opening in the township in 1819, about one mile 
south of the center. He came from Massachusetts, 
died in Chatham in the month of October, 1843, aged 
74 years. 



CHURCHES. 

The first Congregational Church was organized in 
April, 1834, under the Union Plan, and was attached to 
the Presbytery. The names of members at its organ- 
ization were Barney Daniels and wife, Ebenzer Shaw 
and wife, Joel Lyon and wife, Amasa Packard and wife, 
Gideon Gaftlner and wife, Irani Packard and wife, Orin 
Shaw and wife, George, Phillip, and Jacob and Sarah 
Packard, making 18 members. In 1843 a division or 
schism got root and eventually divided the church into 
two separate organizations, one part advocating the 
Presbyterian plan, the other sustaining the Oberlin 
plan. During the excitement two church edifices re- 
spectable in appearance and well finished, were built, 
two preachers were hired a part o*all the time. Ef- 
forts were used by each denomination to secure large 
attendance, a spirit of emulation rather than vital piety 
prevailed. The pockets of each were often depleted 
to pay the monetary matters. They continued thus 
struggling for fifteen years. In process of time the 
schisms were either healed or died out, and the two be- 
came united in 1858, and now compose a large and 
influential church. There is at the center a Methodist 
Episcopal Church respectable in numbers and in in- 
fluence. 

To show that liberality was practised among the first 
settlers, take the following instance. Henry K. Joline 



CHATHAM. 



57 



was, for many months, unable to labor, owing to pain- 
ful and severe sickness, and his situation became known 
to those residing in Harrisville township. Every 
night they furnished batchers until he was able to be 
carried to another place. They came with teams, took 
himself and family to Harrisville township and sup- 
ported him while there free of charge, and when he 
was supposed fully„ restored to health they brought 
himself and family to their own residence. Such was 
the feeling and such the noble principles of benevo- 
lence that existed among the first settlers, and thank 
God the same trial of character is still exhibited by 
them, though traveling down to life's sunset. 



CHATHAM STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 


Number. 


Value. 


Horses, - - - 

Cattle, 


716 
1,838 


$23,335 
20,015 


Sheep, ------- 

Hogs>- 

Carriages and Wagons, - - - - 
Merchandise, - 


6,150 

767 

85 


10,292 
2,372 
2,865 
3,500 


Manufacturing, - 

Moneys and Credits, - - - - 

Wheat, bushels, - 

Corn, " 


8,179 

28,951 


600 

4-0,257 

8,179 

7,233 


Butter, pounds, - 

Cheese, "__--_ 

Orchards and Garden Products, 


71,610 
26,175 


7,160 

1,575 

12,650 


Total of yearly value, - - - 




$150,033 



If the wealth that yearly results from the crops of 
Oats, Grass-seeds, Potatoes, Hay, and other articles of 
trade and commerce, were added, it would not be ex- 
ceeding probability to place the annual products at 
$209,000. 

8 



58 CHATHAM. 

Chatham is an agricultural township. Of course the 
fund invested in merchandise is limited in amount. 
The farmers, residing within fifteen miles of rail-road 
stations, are accustomed to go there with their surplus 
produce. 

Although the township is comparatively young, since 
organization, there are evident traits of industry. 
Houses, barns and other buildings, intended for accom- 
modation and comfort, give evidence of taste and neat- 
ness not excelled by townships that have been longer 
settled. 



GUILFORD, 

The township of Guilford is called No. 1, in the 14th 
range of the Western Reserve, and was owned by four 
original purchasers. Roger Newbury, of Windham, 
Connecticut, owned the south-east quarter, Justin Eley, 
of Springfield, Masschusetts, owned the south-west 
quarter, Enoch Perkins, of Hartford, Connecticut,owned 
the north-east quarter ; and Elijah White, of Hudson, 
Connecticut, owned the north-west quarter. 

The first settlement in the township was made in the 
year 1817, by Henry Hosmer, Chester Hosmer, Mary 
T. Hosmer, Shubal Porter, Abigal Porter, Lyman 
Munson and Moses Noble, who came from Southwick 
and Westfield in Massachusetts. All are now living 
in, or uear tho same place where they severally settled, 
except Moses Noble, who died in 1831. In 1816 John 
Wilson and his brother David commenced chopping 
and making the first opening in the north-east quarter 
of the township. In the same year William Moore 
commenced making an opening in the north-west quar- 
ter about one mile east from Chippewa Creek and with- 
in the limits of the Jarm now occupied by Jesse Smith. 
John Wilson and David yet live on, and own the land 
where they first commenced. William Moore now re- 
sides in Westfield township and owns a farm there. 

In February, 1817, Henry and Chester Hosmer, 
Shubal Porter and Lyman Munson built a log house 
on the south bank of Hubbard Creek, and they with 
Mary T. Hosmer and Abigail Porter moved their house- 
hold goods into it, on the first day of March, 1817. 



60 GUILFORD, 

That house was within four rods of the honse now 
known as Dowd's Hotel. In those days the now flour- 
ishing village of Seville was un-origina'ted. The In- 
dians at that time had a village there where they tar- 
ried when on hunting excursions, containing about ten 
wigwams. In that year, along the lowlands of Chip- 
pewa and Hubbard creeks, elk, deer, bears and wolves 
were numerous. 

The two streams were filled with excellent fish. In 
the same year William Hosmer left Southwick in Mas- 
sachusetts, and traveled alone, and after a tedious jour- 
ney of forty-nine days on foot came to the cabin' of his 
relatives in Guilford, and settled with them. During 
this year, 1818, the accession of inhabitants to this 
settlement was few. Philo French came a*hd settled 
near Wilsons. Timothy Phelps made an opening near 
Wm. Moore, and the family of William Wolcott settled 
in the township. This year the county of Medina 
was created. Prior to this year all of this county, part 
of Lorain and a small part of Ashland county belonged 
to Portage. A road was opened from the county 
seat, south through Montville and Guilford, in the 
direction of Wooster, and log bridges made oyer the 
two creeks, within the present corporate limits of Se- 
ville. A road was laid out on the east line of the 
township, north and south. The first couple married 
were David Wilson and Abigail Porter being two of 
the first settlers. The first child born was William 
Walcott in 1819 who died at the age of five years. 

In 1819 Jonas Stiles and William H. Bell became 
residents. Bell made his first opening east of the 
present residence of Moses Shaw. In this year James 
and John Crawford settled in the north-west quarter 
of the township, where now reside many of their de- 
scendants. During this year Henry Hosmer erected a 



GUILFORD. 61 

hewed log house, two stories high, near where he now 
resides. In its day, and in that neighborhood it was 
considered a model edifice, and contrasted wonderfully 
with the wigwams of the Indians, or even the first cab- 
ins that had been built three years prior. Chester Hos- 
mer built a hewed log house into which he moved his 
father and himself. The same land is now owned by 
Eben Brigham. In that house Cyrus Chapman was 
married to Jerusha Hosraer. After marriage they set- 
tled in Harrisville township. Guilford township was 
organized this year with only voters sufficient to make 
the organization legal. Wm. H. Bell, Lyman Munson 
and John Wilson were the first Trustees, and Jonas 
Stiles, the first township clerk. The first ground plowed 
in the township was by Shubal Porter near the flower- 
ing mills, south of Seville. The first frame building 
was erected by Henry Hosmer, on the grounds now 
covered by " Dowd's Plotel." The first death in the 
township was a child of Lyman and Nancy Munson. 
On May 20, 1820 an election was held for a justice of 
the peace. Nine votes were polled and upon counting 
the ballots it was announced that John Crawford had 
one vote, Timothy Phelps had two votes and John 
Smith had six votes, and was declared elected. The 
following are the names of the voters at that election ; 
John Smith, W. H. Bel!, Timothy Phelps, Samuel 
Owen, John Crawford, William Wolcott, Jonas Stiles, 
Lyman Munson and John Wilson. In the same year, 
at the October election, thirteen votes were cast, which 
was the entire poll of the township. .During this year 
a State Road was laid out from Wooster to Cleveland, 
which was laid on the same ground with the same road 
that had been cut out the previous year. It was af- 
terwards known as and called the "Pike." 

The first store in Guilford was opened by Chauncy 



62 GUILFORD. 

Barker. His stock was small and soon sold, when he 
left for Connecticut and there died. 

The first school-house erected in the township was 
west of the State Road and opposite Moses Shaw's 
present residence. It was built cabin fashion, a chim- 
ney of clay and sticks at one end, the roof of clapboards 
kept on by weigh poles, a puncheon floor, no loft, a 
rickety door made of clapboards swung an creaking 
wood hinges, two small windows with greased paper 
for panes instead of glass. Miss Adaline Dothee taught 
the first summer school and John Bell taught the win- 
ter school of 1821 and 1822. In this first Guilford 
Seminary, James A. Bell (thereafter State Representa- 
tive,) Josiah, William and James Crawford, Levi Nye, 
Jacob Bell, Amer aud Jacob Moore were students. In 
1822 that school house was burned down, and in 1823 
a second quite similar in model and convenience was 
erected on the ground where the store of Caughey, Le- 
land & Co., now stands. Intellectual light was poured 
out in that house by Emeline Forbs during the sum- 
mer, and by Nathaneal Bell during the winter. 

This year a death occurred that spread a gloom over 
those who then resided along Chippewa and Hubbard 
creeks. In the month of Novvember, Elijah Porter 
started from the residence of his son, Shubal Porter, to 
the County Seat on necessary business relative to a go 
to pension he was then receiving from the United States. 
He went on foot to Daniel Wilson's, where he borrow- 
ed a horse and started for Medina. Late at night the 
horse came home alone. Mr. Wilson and others soo-n 
were on their way, in the night, in the direction of 
Medina, searching for Mr. Porter. They found him 
about one and a half miles south of Medina setting at 
the root of a beach tree, so chilied that he could not 
speak. They attempted to carry him to the nearest 



GUILFORD. . 63 

house, which was at Medina, but before they got him 
there he died. His remains are interred in a grave- 
yard west from David Wilson's residence, and it may 
be recorded that he was the first white man buried in 
Guilford township. 

In the same year a Militia Company was organized, 
and to accomplish that object the whole of Harrisville, 
Westfield and half of Guilford townships had t^be 
included in order that the necessary number of oincers 
and soldiers could be got. 

In 1824 the present burrying ground east of Seville 
was surveyed, and made by deed the property of the 
township for burial purposes. The first adult buried 
in that cemetery was Mrs. Harriet Wilson, wife of Rob- 
ert Wilson. The same year Mrs. Margaret Wilson, 
wife of John Wilson, died and was buried west of Da- 
vid Wilson's, being the second person interred in that 
burying ground. During this year a school house was 
built at Wilson's Corners, being the third school house 
built in the township. 

In 1825 a Mail Route was established between New 
Hampshire, in Huron county, and New Portage, in 
Portage county, and William Hosmer was the first ap- 
pointed Post Master at Guilford Post Office. 

Prior to the above date a Methodist society had been 
organized at Wilson's Corners, and David Wilson was 
the first class leader. Another Methodist society was, 
in 1826, started at the center of the townshib and 
Reuben Case was class leader. Circuit preachers came 
to those two places twice monthly and in course of a 
few years gathered together a number who are now ex- 
emplary christians of that denomination. This year 
(1826) a saw mill was erected and put in operation by 
Henry Hosmer and Nathaniel Bell. 

In 1827 the settlers became patriotic and determined 



64 GUILFORD. 

to celebrate the 4th of July. An oration was deliver- 
ed by Puifus Freeman, and a dinner of roast pigs, tur- 
keys and chickens was prepared by David Clute. 

In 1817, Guilford had made many advances in im- 
provements and began to put forth united efforts to 
make' use of the many natural advantages they discov- 
ered. The opening of roads from settlement to settle- 
mejri converging at the Hosmer opening seemed to 
indicate that a town should be commenced, and in '28 
Henry Hosmer, as proprietor, calling to his aid Nathan- 
iel Bell, then county surveyor, surveyed and plotted a 
town to which was given the name of Seville, At that 
period Guilford could boast of two regular mail routs, 
an excellent tavern kept by Dr. Eastman, a school 
house, store, blacksmith shop, saw mill and a large 
number of industrious and experienced farmers, busily 
employed in cutting off the wilderness and opening for 
cultivation, beautiful and fertile farms. Not one boas- 
ted of being rich, but every one, under the guidance 
of a beneficent Providence, could say, " I have a com- 
petence and something to bestow." 



NARRATIVE BY DAVID WILSON. 

Myself and brother John first visited what is now 
called Guilford township in 1815, in April, and went 
west to Harrisville township. After tarrying there a 
short time we returned to Trumbull county. In the 
following December we came a second time, made a 
more thorough exploration, and returned unsatisfied. 
In 1819 we returned, purchased the north-east part of 
the township from Simon Perkins, then at Warren, and 
commenced making an improvement. Our house was 
built of bass-wood logs, measured 6 by 10 feet, roofed 



GUILFORD. 65 

with the same kind of timber and chinked with moss. 
We chopped about two acres around our cabin and felt 
truly happy when seeing the noon-day sun shining 
through the openings on our dwellings. We often 
hunted and killed many deer. The choice pieces were 
salted down in a trough that we had scooped out ; and 
after being in brine for some time were hung up and 
dried. Iutending to go home to Warren a short time, 
we had hunted, killed, drefsed and salted down a full 
trough of choice deer meat, intended for our use when 
we returned. In two months we came back, and upon 
examination found that the wild-cats had made open- 
ings into our house, carried off and devoured all of our 
salted deer meat. Nothing else was disturbed. Our 
j^eds were deer skins stretched between two poles, and 
the fat part of an arm was our pillow. Our table was 
one end of a broad puncheon, that was run through an 
opening between the logs of our mansion. Our food 
was bear-meet, venison, wild turkey, potatoes, wild 
honey and tea made of spice wood. We had to go five 
miles through thick wood to get our pone bread baked, 
and we have often carried a bushel of potatoes that 
distance and complained not of the weight. Snakes 
were very numerous, but we did not dread them. My 
brother and I came among a den of rattlesnakes once 
when out hunting, and in a very short time we killed 
eighty, and could, if inclined, have killed more. 

9 • 



66 



GUILFORD. 



GUILFORD STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, --.--',- 

Cattle, - . - 

Sheep, - 

Hogs, ... - 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Invested in Merchandising, 

Invested in Manufacturing, 

Moneys, Credits, Book Accounts, 

Batter, pounds, - 

Cheese., " - 

Wheat, bushels, ... 

Corn, " 

Total of yearly value, 



Number. 


675 


1,916 


4,153 


1,224 


301 


86,790 


14,62 5 


20,416 


79,790 





Value. 
$35,445 

13,113 

7,603 

4,452 

10,743 

23,477 

5,057 

86,398 

8,750 

878 

20,400 

19,945 

$241,261 



If the value of oats, grass seeds, potatoes, wool and 
orchard products be computed and added to the above 
it will make the yearly value of the personal property 
and products of the township and village to exceed 
$315,000. In 1822, there were eighty-four cattle and 
ten horses listed by John Bell, valued at $1,072. To 
compare the list of property for taxation in 1819, with 
those of 1861, for the same purpose, shows an increase 
that few of former times ever expected to see or realize. 
The Wilsons, Hosmers and Porters can look back with 
pleasure upon the advances made since their first 
settlement in Guilford. 



8EANGEE, 

ORGANIZATION. 

The township was organized in February, 1820. A 
military company was raised and organized in 1819. 
John Burt was elected Captain, John Burt, Lieutenant 
and N. A. Goodwin, Ensign. 'At this date there were 
forty families in the township, amounting to about two 
hundred and sixty persons. The first township elec- 
tion was held at the house of Seth Paul, on the first 
Monday in April, 1820. The first township trustees 
were N. A. Goodwin, S. Paul and Festus Ganyard. 
John Codding was the first township clerk, Burt^Cod- 
ding was the first justice of the peace. For some time 
the people were without an elected, constable. In Janu- 
ary. 1822, the trustees met and appointed Ira In graham 
constable. The first money paid into the township 
treasury was twenty-five cents, being a fine imposed for 
swearing. Of that money, one half was paid out for 
paper on which to record township proceedings ; the 
other half of the township fund was paid to William 
Paul for bringing the Laws and Journals from the 
county seat. 

The first couple married were Stephen Woodward and 
Abigail Hill. 

The Congregational Church was organized by Rev. 
W. Hanford and Caleb Pitkins in November 14, 1819, 
with the following church members : Elizar Hills, Ab- 
igail Hills, James Ganyard and Phebe Ganyard, Friend 
Ingrahani and Lydia Ingraham, John Turner and Dolly 



68 ■ GRANGER. 

Turner, Lawrence Moore and Mary Moore, Wealthy 
Dyer, Charity and Hannah Turner — ten members. 

The first Methodist Episcopal Class was formed in 
the autumn of 1820, by Elder Nunn, with the follow- 
ing members : Bela Spencer and Lydia Spencer, Alex- 
ander Spencer, Deborah Goodwin, Samuel Griffin, James 
£rriflin, Jehial Porter and Hannah M'Cloud. 

The first Baptist Church was formed in 1826, with 
the following members, by Elder Henry Hudson: Jesse 
H. Smith, Samuel Crosby and wife, David Holmes, 
Allen Smith and Phebe Grover. 

From those small beginnings the same churches have 
now grown, and each exerts a salutary and christian 
influence among the present increasing inhabitants in 
Granger. 

Could a roll be called in each church above jiamed, 
how many of the first founders could answer personally? 
Head stones in grave yards can tell the resting place of 
many of them. 

The first Physician who settled in Granger was Dr. 
Bufus Pomroy, in the spring of 1829. 

The first cabin built in the township was put up by 
Ezekiel Mott, in the spring of 1816, on Lot 2, being 
the land now owned by George M. Codding. 

The first male born in the township was Hamilton 
Low, son of Hiram. The first female born was Deb- 
orah Goodwin. The two aforesaid first births were 
August 2, 1818. 

The first school in the township was kept by William 
Paul, on lot 42, in the winter of 1819 and 1820, and 
numbered seventeen scholars, among whom were John 
M. Ganyard, John M'Farlen and others. 

The first law suit was between Seymour W. Green 
and Anthony Low. Mr. Seymour's cow lost, from her 
neck, a bell. Some months thereafter, Mr. Low found 



GRANGER. * 00 

a bell ; Seymour said it was bis, Low thought it very 
doubtful; suit was brought, parties appeared, statements 
without anger, were made. The justice awarded the 
bell to Seymour, and made him pay the costs, as he 
gained the suit. 



JAMES GANYARD. 

James (lanyard was born January 14, 1772, at Kil- 
lingsworth, and Phebe, his wi|^ was born at Saybrook, 
1768. They left Connecticut, their native State, and 
came to Bristol, Ontario county, New York, in 1793. 
At that date the place where they settled was consid- 
ered the extreme border of civilization and was then 
called Phelps and Gorham's purchase. 

In the month of October, 1815, Mr. (lanyard, in 
company with Eleazer Hills, Anthony Low and Burt 
Codding, came to Ohio to view No. 3, Kange 13 of the 
Western Beserve and to purchase, if they were satisfied 
with location and price. After viewing land and ad- 
vantages, they returned and purchased of Gideon Gran- 
ger, who was the proprietor of three-fourths of the 
township, at four dollars per acre. They sold their 
: 'ins in Bristol to Mr. Granger in part payment, and 
for the balance yet due to him, gave mortgage upon 
their new purchase. That mortgage proved a serious 
hinderance to the settlers in Granger township for many 
years thereafter. After the agreement was made, and 
before the written contract was signed, Mr. Ganyard 
transferred his right of proprietorship to Mr. John 
Codding, reserving only to himself so much land as he 
had paid for. This is why his name never appeared 
on the written record of the company. Mr. Ganyard 
settled on lot 15, in Granger, in 1811, being the same 



^0 GRANGER. 

farm on which his Hon J. N. Granyard resided in 1860. 
Mr. James Granyard died of dropsy, December 20, 
184-1. Mrs. Phebe Ganyard died of inflammation of 
the brain, March 2, 1840. Their remains occupy graves 
in the burial ground on the same farm, one-half mile 
north- from Graiigerburg. A humble stone bearing 
their names is now the only memorial that remains to 
tell of two who were among the first settlers in Granger. 



ANTONY LOW. 

Anthony Low was born in Providence, Rhode Island, 
in 1760, and in due time of life claimed, by appren- 
ticeship, the appellation of carpenter and joiner. He 
went to Wyoming, when a young man, with the inten- 
tion of carrying on his trade, and while there formed 
an acquaintance with Mary Baldwin, to whom he was 
afterwards married. She was born in Pennsylvania, in 
1772, and was when young, taken prisoner by the 
Indians. Though young, she witnessed many of the 
bloody scenes and murders perpetrated by the Indians 
who then roamed wild masters on either side of the 
Susquehannah river. Over her own head was bran- 
dished the bloody tomahawk of the reckless wild man. 
She witnessed the taking of infants from mothers by 
the heels, and their brains dashed out by being thrown 
against a log or tree, and their bodies left upon the 
ground to molder and rot. She has witnessed the wife 
forced to sit in mute silence while the scalp was being 
rudely cut from the head of the fond husband, and 
then witnessed the tomahawk buried in his head. She 
has, when a prisoner, witnessed the burning of the 
dwellings of the whites, and while the flame was curl- 
ing upward, heard the sad cries of the inmates whose 



GRANGER. 7] 

doom was then either to be burned, or to be slain by 
those who surrounded the burning dwellings. Mr. 
Baldwin, the lather of Mary, had eight sons — all of 
them large and strong men. Three were colonels and 
acted conspicuously during the Indian wars of those 
days. The house of Mr. Baldwin was set on fire twice 
by the Indians. A third effort was being made, when 
one of the sons discovered an Indian near the dwelling 
upon whom he sprang quickly and fearlessly and killed 
him by planting a hatchet in his forehead. 

Anthony Low died in November, 182-1 aged 58, and 
his wife, Mary Low, in August, 1838 aged GQ. They 
were buried on lot 2, in Granger. 

Jesse Perkins, a worthy young man, came into the 
township in 1818, was taken sick when living at the 
house of Mr. John Turner, then in Copley, where he 
died, April 8, 1819. His remains were brought to 
Granger and interred irP lot 5, and hi* was the first 
grave in the township. 

All of the foregoing are collected from a written 
manuscript that can be seen at the residence of Festus 
Ganyard, a son of Mr. James Ganyard, who has lived 
to a good old age and witnessed the great and profit- 
able changes that have taken place in Granger township 
since 1817. 



The following history and incidents are from the 
manuscripts of Mr. W.iogswell. He begins with the 
history of his ancestors dating back about two centuries. 

William Cogswell, the great-great-grandfather of the 
narrator, was born in Ipswich, England, sixty-two miles 
north-east from London. He was well educated in 
navigation, and became the owner of a vessel »in 1GGG, 
and taking in a company, sailed for America, landing 



72 GRANGER. 

at Boston Harbor. While there he accompanied a por- 
tion of those he had brought over, in quest of a loca- 
tion, which when selected, was named Ipswich, after 
his native place and the name of his vessel. After 
making several voyages to and from England, he finally 
settled in Ipswich, America. Edward, his son, was 
born April 17, 1685, and died April 17, 1773. Samuel, 
son of Edward, was born March 1, 1710, and died 
April 11, 1775, William, son of Samuel, and father of 
the present William Cogswell, was born November 2, 
1748, and died in Granger township, May 12, 1838. 
Although he was deprived of a regular education, he 
made mathematics his choice study, and by continued 
application in that branch, became famous as an alma- 
nac compiler in early life. When near life's close he 
gave directions as to his burial, requesting Jehial Por- 
ter to preach his funeral sermon from the text " Blessed 
are they that die in the Lord; 1 ' selected the hymn that 
he wished to be sung, and uttered the following words: 
" I am nearly eighty years old, was never at fifty cents' 
expense for a doctor bill, never lost, by sickness, a 
meal in sixty years, but lost a great many meals on 
account of having nothing to eat." 

My mother was a daughter of Lieutenant Gates, who 
served during the Revolutionary war. She was born 
in Canterbery, Connecticut, in 1772, and during life, 
passed through many trying scenes and privations. 
Among these scenes was the bloody massacre of Wyom- 
ing, of which she was one of the survivors. She there 
witnessed the savage spectacle of sacrificing prisoners 
at the stake. One poor fellow had his body and limbs 
filled with dry splinters, then fastened to a tree and 
burned to death. Another had a portion of his bowels, 
when cut out, fastened to a sapling and himself forced 
to walk around that sapling until all his bowels came 



GRANGER. 73 

out, when lie fell dead. The old woman saw the Indian 
approaching, brandishing his bloody tomahawk, and she 
attempted to divert him from his bloody purpose by 
kindly offering him some bread and beef. The offer 
had the desired effect. The savage asked where her 
papooses (children) were ; she pointed to each one of 
them, and was ordered by the cruel savage to take 
them to a certain corner in the fort and sit down. She 
did so, and while there thanked God for her deliverance, 
and of those with her, and she devoutly prayed that 
God would be a protector to her and to the children. 
That prayer was heard and answered. She lived long 
and happily after witnessing that cruel massacre, and 
died in Bath, at the age of seventy-seven, and is there 
buried. Four of the survivors who witnessed the Wyom- 
ing massacre, after being long separated during life, 
are buried within four miles of each other in Bath and 
Granger. 



WILLIAM COGSWELL'S HISTORY. 

I was born February 20, 1794, at the Great Bend of 
the Susquehanna, N. Y. In 1797, my father, William, 
sold, and removed from New York to Alleghany coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, near Redstone Old Fort. In 1801, 
he became the owner of two hundred acres of land in 
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, by virtue of a soldier's 
right. In April, 1802, he moved there. Provisions 
were then scarce and costly. Often he was forced to 
leave home and work for means to supply his family. 
Once, when leaving, my mother made the inquiry with 
anxiety what should she do if provisions were exhausted 
before his return ? I give his answer:" There is a half 
barrel of bran ; sift it and make bread of it. When 
10 



74 GRANGER. 

that is gone, go to the potatoe patch and dig out the 
old potatoes without disturbing the roots, boil them 
and use them with milk. When they are gone, follow 
the cows in the woods, see whaf herbs they eat, pick of 
the same, boil them and eat that with milk." Having 
gone forty miles, secured employment and got paid in 
corn, he joyfully returned with his hard earnings. A tree 
was cut down, a hole burned in the stump, a sprirg-pole 
erected, by means of which the corn was pounded and 
made ready for use, and in that way fed seven in the 
family. 

When ten years old, I was in the absence of my 
father, compelled to chop and prepare fuel. I had no 
shoes to wear in the winter season. To keep my feet 
from freezing I heated a board at the fire, carried out, 
stood on it when chopping. When it became cold I 
brought it in, heated it, and in that way made it answer 
for shoes and stockings. 

In progress of time, rights to land were often in dis- 
pute, and among the unlucky, it was discovered that my 
father had settled on the wrong piece. Though he 
had made an opening, erected his cabin and settled 
down, as he then supposed, for years, another Soldier's 
Bight lawfully claimed the land, and he was forced to 
give up possession. 

Becoming acquainted with Judge Oliver Phelps, then 
the owner of Granger township, my father visited that 
township in 1807 and found it wholly unsettled. Be- 
ing pleased with appearances of soil, timber and its 
other natural advantages, he made a selection of three 
hundred and seventy acres, now comprised in the three 
lots owned by Isaac Low, C. 11. Spencer and Job 
Green. He went from Granger to Warren, Trumbull 
county, and contracted with Calvin Austin, agent of 
Phelps, for the land, and paid the sum required. Some 



GRANGER. 75 

time thereafter Phelps became insolvent, his title to 
lands seized by creditors and sold. My father having 
purchased on contract, was forced to loose what he had 
paid, and was again prevented from being a land holder. 
He resided in Beaver county until 1815, when he re- 
moved to Columbiana county, Ohio. In 1818 he again 
came to Granger, bought by article the lot now owned 
by Job Green, and settled thereon, and for six years 
struggled through the many hardships incident to first 
settlers. About the time his article expired he found 
himself unable to make payment, owing to want of 
price for produce. He sold his claim to his sons Wil- 
liam, Samuel and Nathaniel, who continued to reside 
there and make improvements. In 1824 I became, by 
purchase, sole owner, concluded to select another local- 
ity, sold my right to land in Granger township and 
moved into Bath township, Summit county, where I 
now (1861) reside. 

I must now make a break in my history, otherwise 
the pioneer community will cast me out of the syna- 
gogue. In 1810, in company with my uncle Gibson 
Gates and Hezekiah Burdick (two of the first settlers 
in Bath) I left the home of my father, traveled by way 
of Vannatt's Ford on the Mahoning river to the house 
of Gates in Bath. I remained there until August of 
that year, when, in company with Gates and John Man- 
ning, I started for Granger township. Our road (old 
settlers called it course) was through Richfield by way 
of L. May (now widow Biglow's land,) thence west- 
wardly to Panther Cave in Hinckley. We visited that 
cave in search of game, but saw no panthers. From 
thence we traveled to where an Indian gallows was 
standing in the big bend of the Rocky River. In 1806, 
a squaw had been hung there, charged with witchcraft. 
The squaw had said that there would be darkness on 



7« GRANGER.. 

the face of tlie earth in June, which the ignorant In- 
dians decided to be undoubted proof of witchery. She 
was hung in May, and on the 13th of June, 1806, there 
was an eclipse of the sun. After viewing the gallows, 
we traveled on southerly, and at night encamped under 
a ledge of rocks near where Isaac Low now resides, 
about thirty rods from the last named place. I at that 
time, carved the initials of my name on a beach tree 
which can be seen to this day. After feasting on wild 
turkey, for breakfast, we pursued our course and came 
on to the " Smith Road," about where the Squaw Tav- 
ern now stands. This was my first visit into and 
through Granger. It was then truly a wilderness ; the 
marks of the pioneers were few. When my remember- 
ance brings to mental view those times and contrast the 
changes, I am astonished, and must say that greater 
improvements are now seen than the most sagacious 
then anticipated. 

In January, 1813, the War Department found it 
necessary to build three small gun boats to be used in 
annoying the larger vessels of the enemy. It was soon 
discovered by Captain Perry that small vessels, being 
more easily and rapidly managed, could do effective 
service in close contest. The contract for building the 
boats was awarded to Brimel Robins, of Alleghany Co., 
Pennsylvania, who selected Cl Old Portage," on the 
Cuyahoga River, as the place where to build them. 
The timber and lumber were furnished by Captains 
Rice and Stowe and sawed in the mill of Francis and 
Zcnas Kelsey, at " old. Cuyahoga village." Stewart 
Gaylord superintended the then boat yard. In June 
the three gun boats were launched, and dubbed with 
the names of " Tripp, Tigress and Portage." I was 
employed with others, to float them down to the Lake, 
f ith instructions that when we got to the '»Pinery,"wo 



GRANGER. If 

should furnish each boat with mast and spars. 

While floating downward toward our destination a 
tree was descried that had fallen into the stream and 
must, unless removed, stop the boats. Being then 
young and full of life, I attacked the log with axe, and 
when nearly ready to float, I lost my balance, falling in- 
to water about fifteen leetin depth. After sounding, I 
made vigorous efforts and came to surface with axe in 
hand, and swam to the shore. I name this occurrence, 
not as a feat, but to say how very difficult it is to rise 
to the surface or to swim when one^^ab of the body is 
heavier, than the other. 

At the Pinery we were detained several days in pro- 
curing the necessary rigging for the boats. At that 
place I killed a porcupine, which was looked upon as an 
animal of great curiosity by our small crew. When 
we got to Cleveland the gun-boats were^examined by 
many .and the general opinion was that they were the 
kind needed. When at Cleveland I became very pat- 
riotic and wished to enlist under Captain Perry, but 
decided to go home first, and after making proper 
arrangements, to return and become a soldier. My 
mother, having tested in part the scenes and priva- 
tions of the Revolutionary war, seemed opposed to my 
enlisting, and by rehearsals of incidents which she had 
witnessed, dampened my ardor, and I finally conrented 
to remain a private, and not brave the storms of Lake 
Erie in a small gun boat. 

In the summer of 1814, I was employed by Messrs. 
Warner and Coit to make salt at the Liverpool salt 
springs, where I continued until the following Decem- 
ber. I not only labored at making salt, but was com- 
pelled to keep watch against the Indians who at that 
time roamed much and often in Columbia and Liverpool 
neighborhoods and kept the few white inhabitants in 



78 GRANGER. 

fear. Tho price of a bushel of Liverpool salt was $5. 

When winter fairly set in, I started for Granger in 
company with Dan Mallet, intending to make hunting 
our main business for some weeks. For some time we 
killed many small game. After some days we found a 
long-legged bear in an alder swamp. When he discov- 
ered us he commenced a retreat. As he passed near me 
I fired, but without effect. The two dogs next attacked 
him, which he siezed, and commenced hugging and 
biting them. I reloaded and fired a second time, the 
ball disabling his we-leg, when he immediately let go 
of the dogs and commenced biting his maimed limb. 
After venting his spleen upon the maimed limb, in de- 
spite of dogs, he came toward me in a very menacing 
manner. I retreated rapidly, but reloaded as I ran, 
and when fully prepared wheeled about and fired. The 
ball took lodgment in the mad bruins jaw, causing it 
to hang downward. At this juncture, Mallett came up 
to the chase from the opposite side of the swamp, and 
taking deliberate aim lodged a ball in the brain of the 
bear and ended the contest and the race. The next 
day we procured an old horse, on which we carried to 
Liverpool the game we had shot during our hunting 
excursion. In those days an axe and rifle constituted 
my chattel property, and it then seemed to me that I 
had all that was necessary. 

After staying at Liverpool some time to complete a 
chopping contract, I again started for the residence of 
my uncle Gates, near the Cuyahoga. At this early 
date there were no iot lines in Brunswick or Hinckley; 
therefore I traveled a course by guess. I had got into 
the N. W. part of Bath when night came on. Wearied 
and hungry I halted, struck up a fire, peeled some bark 
with which to make a bed, arranged it in hunter's style 
and drawing my slouch hat over my face, fell into a 



GRANGER. 79 

pleasant sleep, and remained unmolested until morning. 
When I awoke in the morning I found my bark cover- 
let beautifully adorned with a covering of snow about 
three inches in depth. I arose early, and left my bed 
for the accommodation of any who might need it. I 
had designed to reach the cabin of Mr. E. Hale, when I 
left Liverpool ; still I was not there. On my way, in 
the morning, to Mr. Hale's, I killed two deer. Upon 
arriving at Mr. Hale's, I informed her that I stood in 
much need of dinner, supper, breakfast and dinner, 
having eaten nothing since 1 left Liverpool. Mrs Hale 
informed mo that she had some hominy that she would 
warm lor me. I told her to set it on the table and I 
would warm it by eating. She did so, and 1 fared 
sumptuously and thankfully on cold hominy. In trav- 
eling .from the cabin of Elijah to Jonathan Hale's, I 
killed a noble buck, which I sold to Jonathan for two 
dollars. After remaining a short time, I again com- 
menced rambling from place to place in quest of work 
or game. 

In 1815, I had an interview with a bear, that to this 
day causes me to shudder when I think of the hazard- 
ous adventure. I. Sippy, D. Willey, Wm. Ben and 
myself were felling a tree for coons, when the barking 
of our three dogs, at a distance, admonished us that 
they had found game. When we came to the dogs, we 
discovered that they were in close combat with a bear, 
in the hollow of a large tree that was fallen. I crawled 
in the length of my body,- caught the hind legs of two 
dogs and succeeded in dragging them out. I then 
crawled in a second time, got hold of the leg of the 
remaining dog and by hard pulling succeeded in res- 
cuing him from the tight hug of the bear. The dog 
died soon after being brought out. Soon thereafter 
the enraged bear showed his head at the opening, when 



80 GRANGER. 

a blow from an axe, given by Sippy, nearly severed 
the snout from the head. The bear drew back, but in 
a very few minutes, again poked out his mutilated head 
for which Sippy had been anxiously watching. A sec- 
ond stroke burried the axe in the head of bruin, who 
ceased to draw back. We drew him out and estimated 
his weight, when dressed, at four hundred pounds. 
That encounter often makes me think of Putman and 
the wolf. 

During this hunting excursion we killed twenty-nine 
raccoons, one woolly nig and the before mentioned 
bruin. 

In 1816, in company with Sippy, I roamed over 
portions of Granger, Bath and Hinckley, in order to 
get up a supply of honey, hops and cranberries on" 
which to trade. During our wanderings from place to 
place, we often shot wild game and occasionally a bear. 
In the fall of the year, the bears were accustomed to 
visit wild groves where acorns or chestnuts grew, and 
very often a bullet from the well aimed rifle of the 
hunter caused bruin to fall from an oak or chestnut tree, 
on which he had perched himself to feed upon his 
favorite food. 

In 1818, I became a permanent citizen of Granger, 
after having often roamed alone, and sometimes in 
company with others, over the territory now comprised 
in the townships of Liverpool, Brunswick, Medina, 
Granger, Hinckley, Bath and Copley, in quest of mime 
or in search of trade or employment. My brother-in- 
law, Sippy and myself, purchased by article the land 
where 0. B. Spencer now lives, on which we paid one 
hundred and sixty dollars. That summer we cleared 
and planted six acres of corn and a large patch with 
potatoes. In the fall of that year, I visited the home 
of my father, and after a short stay he and family 



GRANGER. 81 

removed with me to Granger. My father, Sippy and 
myself cut the first opened road from Cuyahoga to 
Granger, at our own expense ; and while thus employed 
we camped out many nights, and our only vegetable 
food was potatoes roasted and eaten with the meat of 
wild game that we occasionally shot. I have assisted 
at the raisings of the first cabins in Richfield, Bath, 
Copley, Sharon, Granger, Hinckley, Brunswick and 
Liverpool townships. I have often walked eight or ten 
miles in company with others, to assist in raising a house 
or barn, and when done considered it no hardship to 
walk home in the evening, and not unfrequently after 
night, lighted by burning torches of hickory bark. To 
ride through the woods in 1818, was no easy or pleas- 
ant task. 

When Sippy and myself articled for the land refer- 
red to, we were to have one hundred and forty acres 
at five dollars per acre. At the close of four years we 
had what was then considered tolerably good cabins 
put up, had cleared about forty acres, and were begin- 
ning to have some of nature's wildness tamed, when 
our article run out, and we were unable to pay as stip- 
ulated. Wheat was then twenty-five cents per bushel 
and other kinds of trade equally low. Trade was then, 
like the man who had a dog which he sold for one 
dollar, and gave the same for two pups, at fifty 'cents 
each. Stringency in money forced us to give up our 
right to the land. We lost all we paid, all our labor 
and improvements and had to start out anew, in search 
of homes that we wished to be permanent. 

I will narrate one more incident, and in so doing, I 
have no wish to seem egotistical, nor yet possessed of 
more than ordinary courage. 

Having lost some of our cattle, Sippy and myself 
concluded to make search for them. While rambling 



22 GRANGER. 

in the woods, the bark of the old dog gave notice that 
he had found some kind of game. When we came to 
the spot we descried an animal perched high in a tree, 
that looked to be of the panther tribe. We had no 
guns with us, and to dislodge the animal, we must have 
recource to a different mode of warfare. Upon a 
nearer approach, we discovered our supposed panther 
to be a wild cat of no common size. I proposod to 
climb the tree, and shake the animal off; but was re- 
minded by Sippy that "pussey's" claws were not easily 
displaced by violent limb shaking. Determined to 
make battle, I cut a club of proper heft, and ascended 
the tree. When within ten feet of the limb on which 
pussy squatted, I stopped to take a look at the critter. 
The green glaring eyes made me feel uncomfortable, 
but my position indicated that I should be courageous. 
With left hand, I took firm hold of a limb, with my 
right hand I wielded the bludgeon. As I stood watch- 
ing, pussy made, first, a few quick shakes of the short 
tail, and instantly bounded down towards my face. 
Instantly I parried off its descent with the club, and 
sent the animal rapidly to the ground. The dog was 
on hand, and made jaw-love to " pussy." A hard fight 
of scratching and biting ensued, which was terminated 
by Sippy giving pussy a blow (lucky or unluck-y) that 
terminated that critter's existence. I frankly acknowl- 
edge that the menacing of that cat made me feel rather 
unpleasant when on the tree, and I consider the risk of 
killing it more hazardous than when in a hallow tree, 
trying to extricate my dogs from the hug of the bear. 

On July 8, 1820, the sparsely settled citizens of 
Granger had met, by invitation, to raise a barn on the 
farm now occupied by David Sheldon. Lyman Isbcl 
was there aiding. A log forty feet long was in prog- 



GRANGER. 83 

ress of being pushed on to the building. By want of 
necessary care, one end of the log got from the pikes 
used in pushing, causing the other end to be displaced 
and the log rolled from the building upon the body of 
Mr. Isbell, killing him instantly. The body was placed 
on a bled and hauled to his home. Late in the evening 
I was requested to go to the residence of Br. Henry 
Hudson, in the north cast part of Bath and get him 
to preach the funeral sermon, at the house of Mr. Isbell 
the following day at 11 A. M. 

I started on foot and got to the house of Mr. Hale, 
(where the preacher boarded,) after dark, but found no 
preacher* Mr. Kale informed me that he was (as he 
supposed) at Cuyahoga Falls. I went there, and was 
informed that he had gone to Fish Creek to preach that 
evening. To Fish Creek I traveled, where I found 
him at three o'clock hi the morning. We then pre- 
pared to return to Granger byway of Cuyahoga Falls, 
and reached the house of the deceased in time to meet 
the appointment. 

I name the sudden death of Mr. Isbell because he 
was a worthy man, and I give a statement of the jour- 
ney after a preacher, to apprise young men of the 
present day that a trip of thirty miles, on foot in the 
night, and through (he woods was undertaken and ac- 
complished with less complaint, in 1820, than a young 
man will now make after walking, in the day time, live 
miles. 



Bear Hunt. — During the early settlement there 
was a she bear, who annoyed the settlers by frequently 
carrying off (without leave,) hogs, calves and other 
domestic animals. She was often threatened, and as 
often pursued. In the winter of 1822, I was hunting 
in the north-west part of Granger, when I came on her 



84 GRANGER. 

trail, which was known to all hunters, by the unusual 
length of the strides. She was escorted by two cubs. 
I called on Sippy and told him of my discovery and 
proposed that we should go in search, and if possible, 
bring the lady to terms. The next morning we were 
early on the trail, intending if possible, to rid the 
neighborhood of the " old pest." We followed the 
trail all day through Hinckley, and toward evening, dis- 
covered dead bees on the snow; We soon found the 
tree, which we chopped down and found more than 
one hundred pounds of beautiful honey. We scooped 
out a trough with the axe and filled it with choice 
honey-comb; and night coming on we encamped there, 
faring sumptuously on bread, (which we carried with 
us) and honey. Next morning we breakfasted early 
on honey and bread, and pursued the trail. After 
pursuing the zigzag tracks for some miles, we came to 
a large basswood, in which was the bear and her two 
cubs. . Marks about the tree seemed to say that it had 
been tenanted by the old depredator for years. We 
concluded we had the " old gal " in close quarters, and 
commenced by sturdy blows to fell the tree. The tree 
fell slowly, being impeded by limbs of other trees, of 
which occurence the bear took advantage and made a 
leap from the tree before it struck the ground. We 
supposed the u old sinner " would, at least, tarry till 
the tree fell, but she was off at bear speed. I fired, but 
the ball took no effect. Sippy sooji dispatched the 
two cubs with his axe. The next day, with horses and 
sled we hauled home cubs and honey. 



Same Old Bear. — In October, 1623, 1 was hunting 
in the north part of Granger, and I had killed two 
turkeys and a deer ; and after traveling about a mile 
from where I had hung them up, I came across the 



GRANGER. 85 

identical thieving, old " she bear." She seemed as 
though she knew me, but did not tarry long. I raised 
my gun and fired ; the ball lodged in her hip. As I 
pursued, I reloaded and fired a second time, and broke 
a fore leg. When the leg was broke the bear stopped, 
sat up and bit the maimed limb, and then was off at 
full speed. I started in pursuit, from where John 
Truman now lives, through the south-west part of 
Hinckley, then into Brunswick, then across Plumb 
Creek, then down the creek, then east into Hinckley, 
and lastly into an alder swamp near where Earl Sals- 
bury now lives. She secreted in the mud and water of 
that swamp, keeping her head up. I went within proper 
distance, fired, and killed her, and thus terminated her 
swinish propensities. The chase of that bear, was about 
the sweatiest, longest and hardest race I ever ran. The 
death of that " old huzzy " gained to me the plaudits 
of many whose, sheep, hogs and calves had been taken 
and devoured by that same thievish bear. 



Contract for Land. — In 1824, my father finding 
himself unable to pay for his farm, according to the 
stipulations of his article, proposed that I should go to 
Mr. Seymour's, who lived in Canandaigua, N. Y., and 
get the same land articled to myself and brothers. I 
consented traveled to Cleveland, from thence, by 
schooner to Buffalo, and thence to Canandaigua. Mr. 
Seymoor heard my statement and consented to release 
the State's claim upon the two lots which Aaron Spen- 
cer had bought, provided Spencer would buy the lot 
on which my father was settled and then article it to 
me and my brothers, which was afterwards done. 

I have now given a few of the incidents of my Pio- 
neer life ; and when I look back where I was, what I 
have encountered and endured, I seem astonished to 



Be 



GRANGER. 



think that I yet live. An over-ruling Providence 
watched over and graciously guided. And "in 18G1, I 
look upon and roam over hills and valleys, once vocal 
with the yell of the red man, and the many wild sounds 
of the beasts of the forest. I have lived to pee a wil- 
derness blossoming and budding. I have lived to see 
a younger generation happily enjoying the rich boons 
resulting from their fathers' toil, and in my years of 
decline I not only wish them present comfort and hap- 
piness, but a full share of all that kind Providence may 
in future bestow. 

GRANGER STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY, 



Horses, - 

Tattle, 

Mules, 

Sheep, 

Hogs. 

Carriages and Wagons. 

Merchandise, 

Manufacturing, 

Moneys, Credits, 

Butter, pounds, 

Cheese, " 

Wheat, bushels, 

Corn. " 



Number. 


value. 


470 


$24,776 


1,D03 


19,518 


2 


80 


8,141 


14,586 


429 


1,451 


175 


5,G70 




3,300 




1.400 




40,580 


7,757 


7.757 


27,905 


6,991 


54,G25 


5,402 


17. -2 on 


1.032 



Tot;il of venrtv value. 



.575 



To these may be added the yearly value accruing i'roin 
Oats. Grass-seeds, Potatoes, Fruits of Orchards and 
Gardens, _______.. 



21,750 



Total estimate, 



$154,325 



If the products made and sold by families, eggs, 
rags, and all other articles of trade or commerce were 
strictly counted, the yearly personal value of the town- 
ship would exceed $175,000. 

Industry produced it — economy saved it. 



HARRISVILLE. 

The following narrative of the first settlements ma le 
in the township of Harrisville was compiled by Dr. E. 
H. Sibley, who had made it a point of interest and 
duty to call personally on Joseph Harris and other 
old pioneers and learn from them the perils and priva- 
tions consequent upon first settlements. Though col- 
lected and compiled in November, 1858, it may be 
truly styled pioneer history. Some of the actors then 
named are since deceased. 



INCIDENTS 

Relating to the Early History and Settlement of Harrisville town- 
ship, Medina county, in the State of Ohio, being No. 1 in the 
19th Range of Toivnships of the Western Reserve. 

In 1807 the Connecticut Company made a division 
of their lands west of the Cuyahoga River Township. 
Number One in the Sixteenth Range (Harrisville,) was 
drawn by sixteen corporates, viz : Nehemiah Gay lord, 
John and Jabes Gillett, Sol. Rockwell and brothers, 
Hczekiah Huntington, William Battell, Russel Burr, 
Job Curtis' heirs, Thomas Huntington, Royal Tylec, 
Wright and SutlifF, Joseph Haines, Martin Kellogg, 
Burr and Loomis, Joseph Battell, and Eliphalet Austin, 
known by the name of the Torringford Company — to- 
gether with two. thousand acres in township numbe: 
One, the Fifteenth Range, to compensate for the swamp 
land in Harrisville township. In 1810, the township 



88 H ARRIS VILLE. 

was surveyed into lots of one hundred acres each, and 
a road was, during the year, established by the Compa- 
ny of Portage county, through the number One, from the 
Franklinton road in Norton, west through the center to 
the east line of Huron county. The Legislature also, 
during this year, established a State road from Mans- 
field to Cleveland, through the township, and appro- 
priated eight hundred dollars toward opening the 
same. It was during this year that the Torringford 
Company made a subdivision of their land in Harris- 
ville, and made Joseph Harris their agent to effect 
sales. The price was established at two dollars per 
acre, Mr. Harris having the privilege of selecting two 
hundred acres as a pioneer settlement location, to be 
deducted from his undivided portion. It was in this 
year, viz: In 1810, that Mr. Harris made his selection 
and built his house. On February 14, 1811, Mr. 
Harris moved his family into Harrisville, consisting of 
himself, wife and one child then about two years old, 
together with James S. Redfield, then a lad about 
eleven years old. 

Their nearest neighbors were at Wooster, seventeen 
miles south on the Killbuck river. The location se- 
lected by Mr. Harris, had been the favorite hunting 
grounds of the Wyandot and Ottawa Indians, and 
many of their wigwams were standing near the spot 
he selected for the site of his present residence — and 
in a good state of preservation. While once making 
excavations for his cellar, many of the bones of their 
ancestors were found. Still, although the social rela- 
tions that subsisted at this time between Mr. Harris and 
these denizens of the forest, were of the most friendly 
and reciprocal character, yet true to their national 
characteristics they preferred retirement from the prox- 
imity of the pale faces, abandoning their lodges, and 



IIARRISVILLE. 89 

building new ones from two to six miles distant. In 
June of this year, Mr. George Burr and his wife in 
company with Russell Burr, came out from Litchfield 
county, Connecticut, and settled on the lot adjoining 
Mr. Harris, and in the following September, the Messrs. 
Calvin and Lyman Corbin, from the city of Boston, 
Massachusetts, purchased and settled on the farm now 
owned by George Burr. No important event occurred 
in the settlement from this on until aboufc the first day 
of July, 1812, when a messenger arrived from Ran- 
dolph, in Portage county, bringing a newspaper 
containing the declaration of war, also a letter warning 
the settlers of their danger, as it was not then known 
in whose interest the Indians would enlist, and urgently 
soliciting them to return to tho older settlements, A 
consultation was held in the evening, which resulted 
in the conclusion that under existing circumstances it 
would be safer to repair to the settlements .until some- 
thing more decisive could be learned in relation to our 
affairs on the then extreme, north-western frontier. 
Accordingly the next morning Mr. Harris, Russell and 
George Burr, with the Corbins, loaded their most 
valuable furniture and household goods on wagons, 
and with seven yoke of oxen, started for Randolph, 
George Burr's wife having gone there some weeks 
previous. Almost at the outset, unfortunately one of 
the wagons was overturned, throwing Mrs. Harris and 
the child from the wagon — but quite undaunted, al- 
though badly bruised, she insisted on going forward, 
and that the journey might be expedited she was 
mounted with her child on the only horse in the settle- 
ment, and accompanied by her husband on foot reached 
their friends in Randolph the next morning, having 
been obliged to lie out over night in the woods, on 
account of having lost the trail when within a mile or 
12 



90 II ARRIS VILLE. 

two of the settlement. The settlers in leaving 'their 
homes, of necessity had to abandon their crops, and as 
the prosperity of the settlement depended on their 
being secured, Mr. Harris, on the following Monday 
morning mounted his horse, shouldered his trusty rifle 
and accompanied only by hip, faithful dog, wended his 
solitary way back to Harrisville. As he approached 
the settlement, he discovered that some persons had 
been in the vicinity during his absence. On examin- 
ing the track, he discovered that some had been made 
with shoes and some with moccasins. Dismounting 
his horse and muffling the bell (an appendage by the 
way which all the early settlers were in the habit of 
attaching to their "Equine" domestics,) he silently 
and cautiously proceeded to examine the Indian trait 
leading from Sandusky to the Tuscarawas, and no ap- 
pearances of Indians having passed along it, he soon 
came to the conclusion that some white person must 
have been in the vicinity during his absence. 

On entering his cabin, appearances indicated that a 
number of persons had passed a night there, having 
used some of his iron ware for the purpose of cooking. 
It was afterwards ascertained that the Commissioners 
who were appointed by the legislature to establish a 
road from Mansfield to Cleveland, passed a night at 
Mr. Harris's house cooking their supper and breakfast 
there. Mr. Harris finding that his wheat was not yet 
fit for harvesting, set about hoeing out his corn and 
potatoes. After having been here about ten days, 
Russell Burr and Elisha Sears came out and harvested 
the crops belonging to the Burrs, which occupied 
about five days, and then returned to Randolph. Mr. 
Harris^ remained about five weeks, his dog being his 
sole companion during the whole time, except the five 
days that Burr and Sears were with him ; his only bed 



HARRIS VILLE. 91 

being an old wagon board, each end of which was so 
supported that it had a sort of spring motion, which 
Mr. Harris says he is quite certain had as sure an in- 
fluence to induce quiet repose to him at that time, as 
would one of " Howe's improved Eliptics" to the most 
elite and fastidious of modern dandies. 

On the return of Mr. Harris to Portage county, he 
first learned of the surrender, by Hull, of Detroit, to 
the British, and at a call from General Wadsworth the 
militia on the Reserve turned out en mass, and Harris 
with Burr and others were out in the campaign some 
three weeks, in and about the vicinity of Cleveland. 
About this time the Corbins sold out, and Russell Burr 
returned to Connecticut, leaving only Harris and Geo. 
Burr with their families, of all that remained of the 
infant settlement. Arrangements being made for re- 
turning to Harrisville, they left Randolph about the 
first of October, 1812,. and again arrived at their homes 
in the wilderness in safety, finding everything quiet 
and unmolested. Being almost entirely isolated from 
the busy world around them, and away from post roads 
and post offices, they could of course know little or 
nothing of what was transpiring outside of the settle- 
ment, and necessarily lived in that uneasy state of un- 
certainty, which to be fully realized must be experienced . 
Yet nothing occurred to disturb their quiet until some- 
time in the latter part of November, when in the early 
part of the evening was heard what was supposed to 
be the shrill whoop of an Indian easily discerned to 
be in an easterly direction, and supposed to be about 
a half mile distant. Mr. Burr, whose house was the 
nearest the point from which the whoop seemed to 
come, hastily siezed his rifle, and taking hisavife and 
child instantly started for the Harris' giving Harris' 
old horse, which was quietly feeding in the woods ; a 



9 a H ARRIS VILLE. 

sufficient fright^ to send him on a keen run towards 
Harris' house, rattling his bell as though Old Nick 
himself was at his heels, thoroughly rousing the Har- 
rises together with the old dog, who barking and 
bouncing through an old slashing, met Mr. Burr 
and added to his excitement by not appearing in his 
own colors, having been transformed into a snowy 
whiteness by some flour Mr. Harris had been shaking 
from his meal bags in order to fill them with grain, to 
be taken the next day to Middlebury. In the mean 
time Harris had not been a disinterested spectator. At 
almost the same instant the whoop was heard, and be- 
fore its echoes had died' away in the distance, he had 
seized his gun examined its condition, extinguished the 
light in his cabin, and saHying out in the dark proceed- 
ed at once up the trail in the direction of the Burrs, 
whom he soon met, when all returned to Harris' house, 
where the women remained while the men posted 
themselves at the corners of the house, to await fur- 
ther developments. In the mean time the whooping 
had ceased and everything remained quiet and still as 
though the angel of death had really reigned over the 
scene. Presently footsteps were heard in the distance ;. 
they approach nearer ; the little band are all eyes and 
ears, expecting every moment to see spring out of the 
dark forest the still darker foe. Soon the dreaded 
apparition of some one in human form was dimly seen 
through the darkness, approaching the house, and when 
it was in hailing distance, Harris drew up his rifle and 
hailed. The response was, "Why, God bless you, don't 
you know Billy Thornington !" while all admitted that 
a better denouement could hardly have been given to 
the everlt. 

On the first day of January, 1812, the deep snow of 
that year commenced and fell to the depth of eighteen 



HARRISVILLE. 93 

inches. Severe cold weather set in and continued 
without loss of snow, until the 27th of February. • On 
the night of the 6th of that month, a man arrived at 
the house of Mr. Harris and informed him that Mr. 
Henry Chittenden, in charge of five teams loaded with 
forty barrels of flour, being forwarded by Norton and 
Adams," contractors at Middlebury, to General Perkins' 
camp, on the Huron River, were detained by the deep 
snow, in the wilderness in the neighborhood of the 
Chippewa, and were entirely destitute of forage and 
provisions, having been five days out from Middlebury, 
and urgently soliciting Mr. Harris to proceed at onco 
to the camp and relieve them. Food for the men was 
immediately provided by the ready and willing hands 
of Mrs. Harris. Then saddling his horses and taking 
on a bag of corn for the teams, with the food so kindly 
provided for the men, Mr. Harris, accompanied by the 
messenger, started about midnight for the camp, where 
they arrived at about four o'clock in the morning. 

The reader can better imagine than pen can describe 
their reception at the camp. Suffice it to say, the 
courtly rules laid down by Lord Chesterfield wjere ut- 
terly discarded, while gratitude and thankfulness were 
heartily manifested in a manner more compatible to 
pioneer life. They were now only thirty-two miles 
from Middlebury, and had yet to travel forty-five 
miles through an unbroken wilderness, to reach the 
camp of the American army on the Huron river, with 
over-loaded and under-fed teams. Their only reliance 
seemed to center on Mr. Harris, his being the only 
settlement on the. route. Mr. Hrrris, therefore, fur- 
nishing provisions for the men and forage for the teams, 
and lessening their loads by taking a portion with his 
own, started the next day for the camp at Huro'n, 
which they reached at the end of eight days, having 



94 HARRISVILLE. 

camped out eleven nights in going and returning. Mr. 
Harris made the return trip in four days. The teams 
from Middlebury and Cuyahoga Falls continued the 
transportation of stores to Perkins' camp until about 
the 20th of February, making their trip much more 
expeditiously after a road had been cut through and a 
path well beaten. The time of the drafting militia at 
Huron having expired about the first of March, those 
from the counties of Wayne and Knox, together with 
other south-eastern counties, were obliged to pass 
through the settlement at Harrisville, in returning to 
their homes. Mr. Harris often entertained companies 
of from ten to twenty at' a time, and furnished them 
the best his scanty board afforded. 

About the first of April, 1813, Jesse and Theophilus 
Cross came from Randolph to Harrisville to make 
inquiries, and search for their father, who, with his son 
Samuel, left Randolph sometime in the preceding De- 
cember, with two loads of oats, drawn by six yoke of 
oxen, to dispose of them to the Pennsylvania volun- 
teers. They learned at Canton that their father had 
disposed of his oats on condition that he would deliver 
them at Mansfield ; and as he did not return, his friends 
at Randolph supposed he had gone on with the troops 
to Fort Meigs. Subsequently learning he had not 
gone in that direction, they on inquiry found out by 
Mr. Crawford, the landlord at Wooster, that they had 
staid with him over night on the 31st of December, 
and on New Year's morning started for Harrisville with 
seventeen head of cattle, which he purpoped to feed 
during the winter on the corn he had purchased of the 
Corbins. 

On the next morning after the arrival of the Crosses, 
they, in companywith Mr. Harris and Geo. Burr, pro- 
ceeded to search for the missing man — having strong 



HARRISVILLE. 95 

suspicions that they must have been in the neighbor- 
hood, from the fact that sometime during the month 
of the preceding January, some three or four head of 
stray cattle had come into the settlement. While 
prosecuting the search, and coming to the little Kill- 
buck near the present site of James H. Moore's factory, 
they found where two yoke of cattle had been chained 
to saplins. At one place was found a yoke and chain, 
at the other the chain only ; the cattle having proba- 
bly managed to free themselves. Continuing the 
search in a south-easterly direction, to the vicinity of 
where Levi Chapman now lives, they found one yoke 
of oxen dead in the yoke. Appearances indicated that 
one of the oxen must have survived his mate sometime, 
having evidently drawn him about by the yoke a great 
distance. Here were also found the dead bodies of five 
or six head of cattle. At a little further beyond this 
point, appearances indicated that some one had evi- 
dently attempted to kindle a fire, small dry sticks 
having been collected for that purpose. Here was 
also found an overcoat, recognized aa belonging to the 
unfortunate Cross, with fragments of other clothing, 
also a skull bone. The remains were brought into the 
settlement and buried. The supposition in relation to 
this sad calamity, was, that coming up from Wooster 
through the wilderness, he got benighted in the neigh- 
borhood of the Little Killbuck ; that he there chained 
up a part of his cattle and undertook to come into the 
settlement, but being unacquainted with the location", 
and a severe snow storm prevailing at the time, he lost 
his way, and perished from cold and exposure, together 
with his son, and were mangled and devoured by beasts 
of prey. 

In February, 1814, Russell and Justus Burr removed 
with their families, from Litchfield county, Connect- 



9G HARRISVILLE. 

icut, and located themselves in the* immediate vicinity 
of Mv. Harris ; and in the month of March, James S. 
Rcdfield returned to Harrisville, being then about four- 
teen years of age, making his home in the family of 
Mr. Harris. In April, 1814, Timothy Munson, from 
Vermont, and Loammi Holcomb, from the State of 
New. York, with their families,. settled in the west part 
of the towoship on the Black River. The township 
now began to receive a considerable number of per- 
manent settlers. Among those who arrived in 1815, 
were Timothy Burr, Alvia Loomis, Collins Young, and 
Job Davis, with their families; and in 1816, Carolus 
Tuttle, Isaac Catlin, Nathan Marsh, Elisha Bishop, 
Perez and Nathaniel Rogers, and James Rogers, who 
drove the first loaded team over the site of Medina 
County seat, and whose wife was the first white woman 
that saw the site that was located for the old Court 
House. During this year also, Charles Lewis, David 
Birge, Josiah Perkins, and William Welch, moved 
their, families into the settlement. In 1817, Noah 
Kellogg, Jason Spencer, Noah Holcomb, Thomas Rus- 
sell, Isaac Rogers, Orange Stodart, Daniel Delvin, 
Henry K. Joslihe, Cyrus and Arvis Chapman, Jona- 
than Fitts, David Rogers, Cyrus Curtis, Geo. Hanna, 
and Doctor Wm. Barns, who built the first mill in the 
township, combining in himself the three professions 
of miller, doctor and preacher. The township was 
organized in 1817, being composed of the territory 
now included in the townships of Harrisville, West- 
field, Lafayette, Chatham, Spencer, Huntington, Ro- 
chester, Troy, Sullivan and Homer. Isaac Catlin was 
elected the first Justice of the Peace ; 'Carolus Tuttle, 
the first Constable ; Timothy Burr, the first Township 
Clerk, and Joseph Harris, Loammi Holcomb, and Isaac 
Catlin the first Trustees. 



IJARMSVILLE, 97 

Jn the spring of 1817, a small log school house was 
erected on the farm of Timothy Burr, near the center 
of the township, and a school was taught during the 
summer by Miss Diadema Churchill, which was prob- 
ably the first school taught in Medina county, and the 
gem of our present elevated and flourishing Common 
Schools. Miss Churchill was soon after united in mar- 
riage with Mr. David Birge, being the mother of four 
children by this marriage. Mr. Birge died in 1825. 
Subsequently Mrs. Birge married a Mr. Gardon Hil- 
liard, of Wadsworth and moved to Canada. The first 
church was established on the 3d and 4th of October, 
1817, by the Congregationalists. on the old union plan, 
in accordance with which plan it soon united with the 
Presbytery. It was formed by the aid of the Reverend 
Messrs. Luther Humphrey, of Burton, Geauga county, 
and Amasa Locmiis, a missionary sent out by the home 
missionary society of Connecticut. The organization 
took place in the little log school house already men- 
tioned, and consisted of twelve members, viz. Isaac 
Catlin, removed to Michigan and died in 1856. 

Eunice Catlin, died in Harrisville in 1834. 

Loammi Holeomb, died in Harrisville in 1834. 

Hannah Holeomb, still lives united with the Baptist 
Church by letter. 

Nathan Hall, first Deacon, removed to Michigan, 
now living. 

Pemilri Hall, removed to Michigan, now living. 

George Burr, now a deacon, still living in Harrisville, 

Mehetable Burr, died in Harrisville in 1843. 

Kussel Burr, died in Harrisville in 1834. 

Carolus Tuttle, still living in Harrisville. 

Cyrus Curtis, removed to Pennsylvania, and died. 

The first settled minister in the township was r the 
Reverend Mr. Breck. a Presbyterian clergyman. Other 
13 



9* HARRISVILLE. 

ministers of the Baptist, Methodist. Episcopalian and 

Universalist orders often held meetings in the town- 
ship, as early as 1810. In 1818, Somer Griffin, with 
his wife, six sons and one daughter, moved into the 
township, also Reuben Chapman with his sons Levi, 
Perrine and Leonard, Captain Ed. Harris and family, 
David Sausman, Mordica Tracy, Stephen Harrington, 
with his sons Reuben, Benjamine and Weava Harring- 
ton. The first death in the township occurred in the 
person of a child of George Burr in 1817. Doctor 
Barnes preached the funeral sermon, being the first 
funeral service performed in the township. The first 
adult that died in the township was Hulda the wife of 
Stephen Harrington. She died in 1818. The first 
birth in the township was a daughter to George and 
Mehetable Burr, in the spring of 1815. The first 
male born in the township was Alpha, son of Justus 
Burr, now of Illinois. 

The first wedding in the township was celebrated in 
November 1816. The parties to it was Levi Holcomb 
and Laura Marsh. There being no clergyman or Jus- 
tice of the Peace in the township to solemnize the 
marriage contract, Mr. James Rogers, who still lives 
in the township distinguished now as then for his dis-. 
interested philanthropy in matters of that kind gen- 
erously volunteered his services to procure the so much 
needed official dignitary. Setting out on foot, like 
Japhet in search of his father, he bent his course 
towards Wadsworth. Arriving there he made appli- 
cation to Esq. Warner, who readily assented to come 
out the next day and legalize the ceremony. It being 
near sundown Mr. Rogers, at the request of Mr. War- 
ner, consented to tarry over night and accompany him 
to Harrisville the next day. But alas ! how precarious 
are all human calculations, for during the night Esq. 



HARKISVILLE. 99 

Warner was taken so severely ill, that it was quite 
impossible for him to fulfil his engagement. Here 
was a dilemma. The wedding was set for that very 
night, and no one yet seeured to perform the ceremony: 
But Mr. Rogers, whose perseverance was only equalled 
by his philanthropy, true to his purpose as the needle 
to the pole, pushed on to Esq. Van Heinani in Norton 
township. The Esquire, who as»it would seem, must 
have been a lineal descendant of Nimrod, was out on a 
deer hunt, and did not return until night, when he 
very ungallantly informed Mr. Rogers that he was not 
at his service. This to most men would have been a 
settler. Not so to Rogers, these reverses and backsets 
only stimulated his zeal the more, for on learning that 
there was a Justice of the Peace in Coventry, he im- 
mediately proceeded thither, secured the services of an 
Esquire Heathman, and arrived at Harrisville the next 
day after the wedding — should have been. — However 
the affair was closed up that evening, and the parties 
are now living in Michigan. This is supposed to have 
been the first wedding in the county. 

The first frame building in the township was a thirty 
by forty foot barn, erected by Russel Burr, in 1816, 
and soon after, in the same year, L. Holcomb built 
another in the west part of the township. 

James S. Redfield brought into.the township, in 1820, 
the first stock of dry goods and groceries. In 1826, 
Redfield and Chapman sold goods in company. In 
1828, a store was opened by Barker and Siza, and in 
1830, another by Archibald Miles and Charles R. 
Deming. Since that time, J. Higbee and the Ains- 
worths have been the principal merchants at the center 
of the town. 

In settling a wilderness county, even those who have 
not experienced its trial? and privations can easily per- 



100 HARRISVILLE. 

oeive that the life of a pioneer caiiiiot be one of entire 
idleness and inactivity. Roads have to be opened, 
farms cleared up, buildings erected ; all this requires 
energy and perseverance. So it was in Harrisville. 
Roads had to be opened leading to Medina, Wooster, 
North, to Elyria, East to Middlebury. Some were 
done by legislative appropriations, and some by volun- 
tary donations. Tire road leading to Medina was a 
state road, for the opening of which the Legislature 
made an appropriation. James S. Redfield, in the 
spring of 1816, took the job of chopping out the road 
from the center of the town to the south west corner 
of Medina, and for making fifty-seven rods of bridges 
and causeways, and finished it about the first of Sep- 
tember. Mr. Redfield says that the first loaded teams 
that passed over the road were those of Josiah Perkins 
and Titus Stanly, then moving into Harrisville. 

The early settlers experienced much trouble in pro- 
tecting their hogs and sheep from the ravages of bears 
and wolves, which infested the woods in great numbers, 
and many are the anecdotes related in relation to their 
encounters with them. James S. Redfield caught, in a 
period of a very few years, one hundred and twenty- 
two wolves, on which he received a bounty of dol- 
lars each. Wolves, as Davy Crocket would say, are 
naturally a .sneaking cowardly varmint, seldom attack- 
ing persons unless compelled by hunger. Mr. Redfield 
relates that having caught one in a steel trap by the 
end of the toe, and fearing that in its struggles it would 
get its foot out of the trap, he pounced upon it, 
put the foot of the wolf into the trap and carried it 
into the settlement. This wolf it would seem, was 
almost as passive as was old Put's, when he applied 
the torch to its nose, for it offered no resistance, nor 
manifested any vieiou-nes? except growling and snarl- 



HARRISVILLE. 101 

ing whenever Kedfield set him down and attempted to 
make him walk, which lied field says he very soon made 
him shut up by cuffing his ears. Judge Harris relates 
that being in company with Loammi Holcomb, about 
Christ-mas, in 1817 or '18, and in the vicinity of Camp- 
bell's Creek, in the township of Westfield, he there 
counted twenty-seven wolves in one drove. In 1818, 
a grand wolf hunt was projected by the townships of 
Westfield, Lafayette, Chatham, Spencer, Homer, Mont- 
ville, Guilford and Harrisville, for the purpose of de- 
stroying and driving out those troublesome beasts, but 
as it is reported that no wolves were captured, the 
inference of the writer is that the benefit that accrued 
if any, must have been in the driving out process. 
However there is no doubt but that while no wolves 
were caught, many deers were, which with the excite- 
ment attending festivities of that character fully, 
reimbursed the hunters for the fatigues of the day. 
Many of the early settlers are still living in Harrisville, 
among whom may be mentioned Judge Harris, George 
Burr, James S. Redfield, Timothy Burr, Albert Harris, 
who was a small child some two years of age, when his 
father settled in the township, also, Carolus Tuttle, 
James Rogers, Lomer Griffin, Levi Seva, Perrin and 
Leonard Chapman, Ebenezer Munson, Willis and Ralz- 
mund Griffin. One notable fact of all others, and one 
which I am led to think has not a parallel in the his- 
tory of many townships, is tha,t of the four persons 
which constituted the first family in the township, all 
at the end of nearly half a century are now living in 
the township. They are Joseph Harris and wife, Al- 
bert Harris and James Redfield. 



102 



BAIttftSmLE. 



HARRISVILLE STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, - 

Cattle, 

Sheep, 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Merchandise, 

Moneys, Credits, 

Butter, pounds, - - 

Cheese, " 

Wheat, bushels, 

Corn, " 



Total of yearly value, 



545 
1 660 
4,895 
1,003 

176 



59,710 
12,117 
16,980 
69,472 



Value. 

$26,800 

16,632 

8,712 

2,926 

2,789 

4,600 

27,480 

5,970 

780 

16,980 

17,380 



$131,049 



Making the average yearly yield to be $131,049 as 
listed and returned by the assessor in 1816. 

If to the above be added the value that yearly results 
from clover and grass-seeds, oats, potatoes, garden and 
orchard products, the yearly amount of all would be 
about $175,500. 

If the amount originated from the operation of mills, 
tannery, foundry, and other industrial establishments 
could be added to the above, the yearly amount would 
be largely increased. 



HINCKLEY. 

From the following narratives it appears that prior 
to 1818, very little was known of the township but 
what had been noticed and told by hunters, who when 
traveling had paid more attention to game, than to 
land, timber or natural advantages. 

To those in search of level unbroken surface it did 
not seem very inviting. The many rugged jutting 
hills between which deep ravines intervene ; and the 
long, high and narrow ridges of land made by the sud- 
den circuitous windings of the Rocky River, from north 
to south, and then from south north-westerly, are 
calculated to give the hasty explorer unfavorable 
impressions. 

But after industry and perseverance came and sheared 
off the forest, and permitted the sun to shine upon the 
earth's surface, it was discovered that the fertility of 
the soil was not inferior to that of lands south and 
west, and that the many springs of pure water that 
gushed from the hill sides at all seasons in the year 
gave strong proof of its being a healthy township. 

Not a few, who preferred health to a level surface, 
made choice of the township of Hinckley as their res- 
idence, and the homes of their families for which they 
toiled. Since the first organization up to the present 
time (18G1) the advances m.ide in cultivation of soil, 
planting orchards, erecting residences and encouraging 
industrial establishments will make it compare favor- 
ably with other townships of the same age in the 
county. 



104 HINCKLEY 



The following narratives, compiled by Doctor O. 
Wilcox, Mr. Cogswell and Riley the Rover, comprise 
many historical facts worthy of being read and pre- 
served by the descendants of the first pioneers. 



NARRATIVE BY 0. WILCOX. 

In the distribution of the lards of the Western 
Reserve, among the original land speculators who 
bought it of the State of Connecticut, the township of 
Hinckley fell to the lot of Judge Samuel Hinckley, 
of Northampton, Massachusetts. When or where he 
was born, T do not know, but he was educated for a 
lawyer and as I understand began life rather poor. 
He amassed considerable property and died about 
twenty years ago, in Northampton, esteemed and re- 
spected by his neighbors for his many virtues. He 
had a strong penchant for trading in lands and it almost 
seems that Heaven would be no Heaven to him unless 
he could trade in land there, as is illustrated by the 
following anecdote which is related of him. 

Governor Strong, of Massachusetts, was a brother- 
in-law of Hinckley, and also owner of lands on the 
Reserve. One day they were discussing the propriety 
of putting their lands into market. Strong thought it 
best, as the saving in taxes and interest would more 
than equal the rise in value. Hinckley dissented. 
*• Why," said he "the time will come when those lands 
will sell for ten dollars per acre." "Yes," replied 
Strong, " but before that time comes, you and I will be 
in Heaven." "Ah! that's the Devil of it," said the 
.Tndj-e. 



HINCKLEY, 105 

The Judge was owner of several townships and parts 
of townships besides Hinckley, and as this was a rough, 
broken township, he seemed to think less of it than he 
did of his others, consequently he had them surveyed 
and brought into market first. Hence all the adjoining 
townships were partially settled before Hinckley. The 
wild animals, disturbed by the cYash of falling trees, 
the barking of dogs, the loud shouts of merry children 
(the children were noisy in -those days,) and the crack 
of the settler's rifle, fled from the noise and confusion 
to the silent shades and deep recesses of Hinckley, 
where they were comparatively safe from disturbance. 
Of course Hinckley abounded in wild game and this 
led to the getting up of a grand hunt. The great 
Hinckley hunt was the first incident in its history 
worth relating and as this has been so often and ably 
described by others ; I will not write it, but leave the 
description to Cogswell and Riley the Rover, who are 
more conversant with its incidents than I am. 

The hunt took place in 1818. The next year the 
township was surveyed by Abraham Freeze, Esq., of 
Brunswick, for the Judge." He made one hundred lots 
of it, each containing one hundred and sixty acres. 

Lot No. One was in the north-west corner of the 
township, the next lot east was No. Two, and so on 
back and forth to the south-west corner of the township 
which was lot One Hundred. On lot Sixty-nine, Freeze 
found a squatter named Walton, who was the first set- 
tler in the township, and the only one at the time of 
its survey in 1819. Where Walton came from or where 
he moved to I never could learn. He was* an indus- 
trious man and had made considerable improvement on 
what is considered the best lot in the township. Freeze 
paid Walton for his improvements and bought the lot 
of Hinckley, and afterwards sold it, about 1835, to 
14 



10G HINCKLEY. 

Nathan Wilson, who on his death left it to his daugh- 
ter Julia, who is now its owner. 

The same or next year, Frederick Deming, of Bruns- 
wick, bought lot Fifty-two and a part of lot Forty-nine 
and built in the south-east corner of lot Forty-nine. 
Here he lived almost alone for a few years. A Mr. 
Stillman "bought the remainder of lot Forty-nine, and 
built nearly opposite Deming's, where Joseph Gouch 
now lives. A Mr. Beaumont, who was an acquaintance 
or relative of Stillman's, came with him and bought 
on lot Thirteen, where N. L. Usher now lives, and made 
some improvements. Stillman soon died — what year I 
cannot ascertain. Deming selected a knoll a little west 
of his residence for his burial. Here the Bidge bury- 
ing ground is now located. The death of Stillman so 
discouraged his family that they moved back to the 
State of New York, whence they came, accompanied 
by Beaumont. Settlers gradually came in, among 
whom were Dorman Buck, Jared Thayer, J. Fisk, I. 
Loonrfe, A. Freeze, Ingersol Porter, D. M. Conant, 
Chester Conant, Easton, Piper, Stow and others ; so 
that they thought it best to have the township organ- 
ized and named. 

The first frame barn put up in town was for A. Freeze; 
it was a large barn thirty-five by forty-five feet on the 
ground, and for all the work, which was done by con-' 
tract Freeze paid only seventy-five dollars ! At present 
prices of labor it would cost nearly double. At the 
raising of this barn, which was in the spring or early 
summer of 1824, and which required the help of all 
the able-bodied men in the township, as well as many 
from Bich field, the question of organizing and naming 
the township was discussed. Freeze stated to the 
people that Judge Hinckley had. promised him that if 
the citizens would name it Hinckley in his honor he 



HINCKLEY. 10 7 

would deed them a lot of one hundred and sixty acres 
for school purposes, or any use they choose to put it 
to. They therefore voted to name it Hinckley. The 
next year when the Judge made his annual visit to 
collect his dues, Freeze reminded him of his promise. 
The Judge hemmed and hawed, said he had been very 
unfortunate the past year, had met with heavy losses, 
had had much sickness in his family, and really did not 
feel able to make so large a gift; but he would donate 
two and one-half acres at the center for a public square, 
and two burying grounds, each containing one and one- 
fourth acres, which was the best he could do: these he 
accordingly deeded to the township. The first town- 
ship election was held at the log school house built on 
A. Freeze's land, the site of the present school house 
in District No. One, September 25, 1825. Thomas N. 
Easton, Jared Thayer and D. M. Conant acted as 
Judges of e'ection and Eeuben Inverse-! and A. Freeze, 
Clerks. They elected Jared Thayer Clerk ; It. Ingersol, 
T. N. Easton and Josiah Piper, Trustees ; Joab Loomis 
and Samuel Porter, Overseers of Poor ; Curtis Bullard 
and Richard Swift Fence Viewers; D. M. Cenantand 
Jonathan Fisk. Listers and Appraisers of property; 
Fred. Doming, Treasurer ; Thomas Stow and P. Bab- 
cock, Con' tables ; John C Lane, Chester Conant, Abra - 
ham Freeze, David Babcock, Supervisors. 

Of all the above named officers, Easton, Piper, Swift 
and Babcock only live in Hinckley now. Stow and 
Porter died in Hinckley. The rest moved away and 
have died or are living elsewhere. 

Curtis Bullard was the first Justice of the Peace 
elected, and the first couple he married, and the first 
couple married in the township ; were a Mr. Carr and 
Miss Harriet Wallace. Wallace livrd on the farm now 
owned by Andrew M'Creery. Among the guests pres- 



108 H IN CM LEV. 

ent were Mr. Piper and wife; Billiard and wife, IL 
Bangs, E. Bangs, and others, and they had a right jolly 
time. Among other amusing performances they sang 
" Scotland is burning, run boys run, Scotland is burn- 
ing, fire, fire, fire, Pour on water, pour on water," &c. 
They were excellent singers and carried all the patte 
to perfection. The time and occasion and spirit in 
which it was sung rendered it ludicrous and laughable 
in the extreme. 

Carr stayed with his wife but three or four days and 
then left her for parts unknown. 

The first child born in Hinckley was a daughter to 
Mrs. F. Deming. I can't ascertain whether that child 
is living now or not, but the impression of the neigh- 
bors is that she died when young, in Hinckley. The 
first school taught was in the log school house already 
mentioned, by Miss Julia Curtis, of Rich field. The 
house was built by Freeze and neighbors in 1824. To 
her went the young of the neighborhood, but of all 
that went and all that sent to that school ,uot one now 
lives in Hinckley. Miss Curtis married Erastu* Oviatt, 
of Richfield. After Oviatt's death, she niarrisd Dr. 
Hiram Wheeler. 

The Congregational Church was organized in Hinck- 
ley, May 5, 1828, with the following members : James 
Porter and Mary his wife; Cornelius Northrop and 
Mary his wife ; John Jones and Myra his wife ; Mrs. 
B. Thayer, wife of Jacob Thayer ; Mrs. Temperance 
Easton, wife of Thomas Easton ; Harriet Carr, wife of 
John Carr ; Curtis Bullard, and Sarah his wife ; Zil- 
pah Loomis, wife of Jacob Loomis ; Mary Fisk, wife 
of Jonathan Fisk ; Thomas W. Easton and Samantha 
Loomis. Rev. Simeon Woodruff and Israel Shaler con- 
ducted the exercises at the organization. 

The first frame dwelling erected in town was by F. 



HltfCRLE*. 109 

Deniing. It was burned down a few years ago, while 
owned by widow Sawyer. The next erected was by A. 
Freeze, which is still standing-. The dwellings of the 
first settlers were universally built of logs. Though < 
not as commodious as the present dwellings, the dwel- 
lers therein enjoyed as much true happiness. This all 
the old settlers will testify to, and that they were 
healthier, the bills of mortality will show. Hinckley 
was as populous in 1840, as now. The following bill 
of mortality carefully kept by Deacons Waite and Close, 
will show the number of deaths since 1840. This may 
be relied on as nearly, if not quite correct. There 
died in 1840, 9; 1841/6; 1842, 7; 1843,11; 1844, 12; 
1845, 15 ; 1846, 17 ; 1847, 16 ; 1848, 22 : 1849, 13, 1850, 
10 ; 1851, 10 ; 1852, 15 ; 1853, 11 ; 1854', 31 ; 1855, 11, 
1856, 13 ; 1857, 11 ; 1858, 13 ; 1859^, 9 ; 1S60, 16 ; 
1861 to August 18, 12. 

The oldest person who died was Mrs. Damon, mother 
of the late Caleb Damon. She died at the advanced age 
of one hundred and three years. The next oldest was 
Mr. Brown, father of Mrs. Salmon King; his age was 
eighty-nine years. Of the deaths, some were accidental 
and violent. T. N. Ferris was killed by the fall of a 
tree ; Richard Swift, Jr., was killed by the accidental 
discharge of a rifle in his own hands ; J. B. Dake was 
killed by the kick of a horse ; Caleb Damon was shot 
by A. Shear, while hunting turkeys-,, Damon had se- 
creted himself behind a log, and was imitating the call 
of a turkey. This called up Shear, who was hunting, 
and who saw Damon's head move just above the log. 
Mistaking it for the turkey, Shear took aim, and on 
going to find the turkey he found his friend and neigh- 
bor in the agonies of death. S. P. Woodruff was killed 
by lightning, and some children have been so badly 
burned as to cause their death : so that Hinckley on 



110 HINCKLEY. 

(he whole may be called a healt|iy township. Tlic 
deaths scarcely averaging one per cent. If time per- 
mitted I might record some anecdotes, hunting stories 
and i'un. but the above must suffice. The history of 
Hinckley does not abound with stirring incidents of 
Meld and flood. Such as occurred to my mind I have 
hastily written as above. I believe them to be gener- 
ally correct. If I have made mistakes it is through 
misinformation and treacherous memory. After a lapse 
of thirty or forty years it is very difficult to get at the 
exact truth of things. I have enquired of more than 
a dozen who were present at the great hunt as to the 
day of the month it took place on, and but one pre- 
tended to know. He said it occurred on the 24th of 
December, for die recollects the next day was Christ- 
mas. Should a, second edition be called for I may 
perhaps enlarge and improve — till then this must 
suffice. 



THE GREAT HINCKLEY HUNT— BY MR. COGSWELL. 

Game being numerous in this section, in 1818: 
especially bears and wolves, which were a great annoy- 
ance to the settlers, a big hunt was resolved on, and 
appointed to come off on the 24th of December, by a 
proclamation to the following towns: Cleveland and 
Newhurg, who were to form on the north line of 
Hinckley ; Brecksville and Richfield, on the east line ; 
Bath and Granger on the south line ; and Medina and 
Brunswick on the west line, and thus complete the 
square. It was the intention to sweep the whole town- 
ship of Hinckley, and orders were given to be on the 
ground about sunrise. Uncle Gates and myself started 
from his residence, on the Cuyahoga river, the day 



HINCKLEY. Ill 

previous to the hunt, with the intention of taking a 
little look for game through the woods as we went, and 
in order to be on the.gnfbilnd the next morning. When 
we were near the north line-of Bath we separated with 
the understanding that we would meet at another cer- 
tain point. I had not gone far. when I "discovered 
where a coon had come off of a large oak tree, and had 
turned hack and went up the tree again. I knew if 
there was an Indian there he would contrive some wa} T 
to get the game without the trouble of cutting the tree. 
I looked about to see how this could be accomplished. 
There was a large limb on the oak, about sixty feet 
from the ground, and not far from the tree was a small 
hickory, which if fell would lodge on the limb. I 
chopped the hickory, it lodged, and made as I suppos- 
ed, a safe bridge by which I could reach Mr. coon. 
But I was mistaken, for when within ten or twelve feet 
of the limb, I discovered that there was a very little 
of the top of the hickory that was above the limb, and 
that it was sliding down further every move that I 
made. This was a perilous situation indeed, and I 
saw that something decisive must be' done. I first 
thought of retreating, but I soon found that this would 
be as bad as proceeding, as every move I made brought 
the hickory further off the limb. I therefore resolved 
to reach the tree if possible, and with several desperate 
grabs, I did so. I now thought I would make things 
safe, and I took the few remaining twigs that still sus- 
tained the hickory and withed them around the limb 
of the oak. I soon discovered the retreat of my coon, 
and chopping in I pulled him out and threw him down 
to my dog. I descended safely, and by the time T had 
reached the ground my uncle Gates came up. I showed 
him what I had done, and he declared that he would 
not have undertaken it. for all the land on the Tuva- 



112 HINCKLEY. 

hoga river, from Old Portage to Cleveland. T did not 
undertake it for the value of the coon, but because I 
thought I would not be outdone by the Indians. We 
stayed over night at Mr. Rial Bray's, near the cast 
line of Hinckley. The next morning we were on the 
line by sunrise. We waited some time before they 
were all to their places, and then the word " all ready" 
was passed from mouth to mouth. The word was forty 
seconds going round the twenty miles, the first tele- 
graph known. Then came the sound of the horns, 
which was the signal for a start. The managers had 
made a circle, half a mile in diameter, in the center of 
the town by blazing trees, and when we came to that 
circle we were ordered to halt. It soon became evi- 
dent the ring was too large as the game had a good 
chance to secrete themselves. The managers now came 
to me and said they wished I would select some good 
man, and go into the ring and shoot some of the large 
game, which would drive the rest toward the outside. 
I selected my uncle Gates, and we proceeded toward 
the center. I soon came in contact with plenty of 
wolves and bears, and had shot several when I saw 
near the center a monstrous bear, I think the largest I 
ever saw of that species. I wounded him twice so that 
he dropped each time, when he retreated toward the 
south line, and I followed in close pursuit. About 
this time the south line advanced about forty rods, 
which brought them within a short distance of myself 
and the bear. My dog seeing me after the bear broke 
away from the young man who had him in charge, and 
came running to my assistance, and met the bear just 
as he was crossing a little creek on the ice. I ran up 
to the bank, within twenty-five or thirty feet of the 
bear, and stood several feet above him. About this 
time the men in the south line commenced shooting at 



HINCKLEY. 113 

the bear, apparently regardless of me or my dog. 
There were probably one hundred guns fired within a 
very short space of time, and the bullets sounded to 
me very much like a hail storm. As soon as the old 
fellow got his head still enough so that I dare shoot, I 
laid him out. While they were firing so many guns, a 
great many persons hallooed to me to come out or I 
would be shot, but as it happened neither myself nor 
dog were hurt, and even the. bear was not hit by their 
random shots, for when he was dressed there were but 
three ball holes found in his hide, .and those I made. 
I now returned to the center alone, as my uncle Gates 
had got frightened out,and finished the bears and wolves, 
then commenced on the deer. I killed twenty-five or 
thirty so fast that I did not pretend to keep count. I 
stood 'by one tree and killed eight as fast as I could 
load and shoot. The last animal that I killed was a 
wounded wolf that had secreted herself in the top of a 
fallen tree. We were then ordered to go down where 
the big bear was, discharge our guns, and stack them, 
and proceed to draw in the game. It was found, when 
the men were all together, that there were four hundred 
and fifty-four, and it was estimated that there were 
about five hundred on the lines in the morning. The 
amount of game killed was, about three hundred deer, 
twenty-one bears, and seventeen wolves, that were killed 
in the ring, and it was estimated that about one hun- 
dred deer werej killed while marching to the center. 
The night was spent merrily in singing songs, roasting 
meat, &c. In the morning we tried to hit on some 
plan to organize, and divide the game, but it seemed 
impossible to get any plan to work. About this time 
Major Henry Coyt came from Liverpool, and I went 
and asked him to assist us in bringing about an organ- 
ization, lie did so and succeeded in eettins: a com- 
15 



114- HINCKLEY. 

mittee appointed, consisting of himself, Cap.t. John 
Bigelow, of Richfield, and myself. We proceeded to 
divide the men into four divisions, as follows : first 
divisien, Cleveland, Royalton and Newburg; second di- 
vision, Brecksville and Richfield ; third division, Bath 
and Granger ; fourth division, Medina, Brunswick and 
Liverpool ; and then we divided the game as well as we 
could in proportion. This was probably the greatest 
hunt that ever has been, or ever will be in the United 
States ; and strange to say, but one accident happened. 
Captain Lothrop Seymour received a buck shot in his 
shoulder and one in his leg. I frequently heard bul- 
lets whistle near me, and saw one bush cut off by a 
ball not more than a rod from me. Many of the pro- 
ceedings through the night, I have not written in detail, 
as it will probably be graphically given by Riley the 
Rover, and perhaps some others. 



THE HINCKLEY HUNT— BY RILEY ROVER. 

I was in the town of Hinckley 

A week or two ago, 
And heard some good old settlers tell 

The tale I write below. 4! 

The scene that in this tale appears, 

You will please remember, 
Lies in the past full two score years 

From coming next December, 



HINCKLEY. 

in all tbc towns that lay around, 
Many settlers had crept in, 

And broke the forest with the sound 
That settlements begin. 

They were a set of stalwarth men 
And had their past-times bold; 

Wild beasts were in the forest then, 
As in the plains of old. 

The township was a favorite haunt 

For game of every kind, 
Where hunters weekly took a jaunt. 

Their quiet lairs to find. 

As taught to shun the settlers door, 

Beasts from his cabfn fled 
This town became yet more and more 

The haunt to which they fled. 

At length a message went around, 

To test thersettlers sent, 
To see how many could be found, 

To join a royal hunt. 

We'll form, said they, a line of men, 

Around the town at morn, 
And march straight to the center then, 

With whistle, shout and horn. 



115 



116 HINCKLEY. 

The proposition pleased them well, 

And all agreed to go. 
Who had a gun, a voice to yell, 

Or konkle shell to blow. 

They blazed a line around the center. 

Made plain to every eye, 
To show where only beasts might enter, 

And not a man pass by. 

• The day was set, the dawn drew near, 
To game — the dawn of doom, 
From every side tre men appear, 
In mists of morning gloom. 

From left to right they sound the horn, 
Till all their place have found, 

And on the breath of echoing morn, 
The notes go quickly round. 



Then every man his skill employs, 
Some frightful sound to try; 

But none must light the firy steam, 
Nor let a bullet fly. 

Until the signal at the center, 

Shall bid the circle round, 
Upon the work of death to enter, 
,And slay the 1 easts then found, 



HINCKLEY. I L T 

In droves of scores, the panting deer 

Sweeping the circle round, 
Before the hunters shot appear, 

A mark at every bound. 



It is a wild and thrilling sight, 
To see the baffled herd's affright, 
To see the eye-balls of the deer, 
Out-straining from his head appear : 
To hear old bruin's sullen growl ; 
To hark the wolfs despairing howl; 
To sec the hunter in. his place, 
Snatch up his rifle to his face, 
The flash and dust and fire let fl}', 
With rattling echo's quick reply; 
To see game stricken in their bound, 
Fall noisless, lifeless to the ground ; 
Or if they 'scape, as many did, 
To see-how quickly they were hid. 
Without a pause to bid adieu, 
As from the carnage scenes they flew. 



Now thrilling scenes and sights arc seen. 

Upon new work men enter, 
And all more jovial than before. 

Drag game into the center. 



118 HINCKLEY. 

But day turns on its dusky side. • 
As they their work have done, 

They wait till morning to divide 
The booty they have won. 

Foreseeing this, they gather first. 

From off the gory field, 
The wolves they've slain whose hairy sealps 

A county booty yield. 

All these they give to a trusty man, 

Who with a horse and sled. 
To buy a giant whiskey can, 

Off through the forest sped. 

In time, the man was on the ground. 
With all his team could pull, 

Joyfully the jovial fellows found, 
He'd brought a barrel full. 

They set the barrel on one end. 

And knocked the other in, 
They used for tapster to attend, 

A ladle made of tin. 

Then, whiskey made by honest men, 

Was drank by men upright, 
And none would deem it hurtful then 

To drink on such a night. 



HINCKLEY. 119 

Then every man drunk what he chose, 

And all were men of spunk. 
But not a fighting wrangle rose. 

And not a man got drunk. 

They kindled fires o'er all the ground, 

And made the forest light, 
The joke, the jest, the song went round, 

Through all that jovial night. 

They skinned a bear and dressed him whole, 

But little did they eat, 
More fond of fun and flow of soul, 

Than of the greasy meat. 

The bear was fat as fat could be, 

Wrap't round him like a place, 
T would charm an Esquimaux to see 

His robe of dripping grease. 

One hunter with an oily chunk, 

Soon chanced to grease another, 
Who quick resolved with pleasant spunk 

To turn and grease his brother. 

Quickly others joined the fun, 
Saying that oil was good for hair, 

Oil on the heads of all must run, 
And none his brother spare. 



120 HIWKLKY. 

It was a night of great anointing. 

Anight of wondrous things. 
Night of instinct appointing, 
" Great jubilee of kings. 

Old bruin's fat was used for oil, 
And whiskey used for wine, 

Triumphant mid their slaughtered Bpoil, 
They made their faces shine. 

Most of that noble jovial band, 
Have past from earth away, 

Yet still some scattered o'er the land. 
Are living to this day. 

I have myself a hunter been, 
And aided by my hounds, 
More than one hundred wolves have slain. 

On western hunting grounds. 

• •• 

And I have been a Pioneer, 

From my young manhood's birth, 
. With owls and wolves all howling near, 
While sleeping on the earth. 

Still I am not a settler old, 

Nor yet Old Settler's boy, 
I am a rover wild and bold, 

And roving's my employ. 



HINCKLEY 



121 



[f to the foregoing amount was added the sum that 
yearly accrues from the production of clover-seed, 
grass-seed^ oats, potatoes, orchards and gardens, the 
products might safely be set down at one hundred and 
fifty-two thousand dollars. 

Let those who resided in the township in 1819, when 
there were listed for taxation nine horses and fifty-two 
cattle, contrast then and now and they must acknowl- 
edge that the advances have been onward. 



HINCKLEY STATISTICS. 



"PERSONAL property. 



Horses, - 

Cattle,' 

Sheep, 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagon?, 

Watches, 

Pianos, -•""■'" 

Merchandise, 

Moneys, Credits, 

Butter, pounds, 

Cheese, u 

Wheat, bushels, 

Corn, ". 

"Total of "vearly value, 



Number. 


Value. 


498 


$20,075 


1,735 


22,107 


0,394 


9,479 


338 


1,252 


173 


5,830 


41 


480 


6 


230 




3,725 




28,902 


73,250 


7,325 


38,950 


2,337 


4,072 


4,072 


19,145 


4,780 



$117,326 



16 



HOMER. 



Many of the incidents narrated relative to the first 
settlements in Harrisville, embrace a portion of terri- 
tory and some of the characters that are now in Homer 
township. For many years prior to township organi- 
zations the interests of the two were partially indentified. 

The first opening within the present limits of the 
township, was made by Mr. Parks, who is still a resi- 
dent. In 1831, the whole township was unsettled, with 
only here and there a few rude structures that had 
been erected by the migrating hunters for a temporary 
occupancy. 

The original papers relative to the first township 
organization are lost, and the early history is given by 
a few old settlers from recollection. 

The first child born in the township was Harriet 
Parks. The first school was kept by Mr. James Parks, 
numbering fourteen scholars, very few of whom are 
now residents of the township. It was not then con- 
sidered too far to send children of ten years old, two 
miles, by a circuitous path, to the school, without shoes, 
and not unfrequently without bonnets. 

The first township Trustees were Messrs. Tanner, 
Park and Wing. Asa Beard was the first Justice of 
the Peace. The first marriage was Charles Atkins to 
Elizabeth Campbell. The first acre of wheat reared 
and harvested within the township was cut by Mr. 



HOMER. 12:: 

Duncan Williams, who is now the owner of large farm 
within the township. The settlements were rapid and 
the openings and improvements now seen, give evidence 
of untiring industry ; and should the same perseverance 

be exercised for the next twenty years. Homer town- 
ship will vie with any of the older settled townships, 
in agricultural products. There is also a marked 
advance seen in the erection of dwellings and other 
buildings, in the planting and cultivation of orchards 
and ornamental shrubbery, and in the selection of live 
stock. Not unfrequentl'y the cattle from Homer, ex- 
hibited at our Fair, have taken tlje premium. 

In future time the commercial advantages that the 
agriculturtsts of Homer will realize, must consequently 
add to their wealth. Proximity to railroad conveyances 
south and west, afford encouragement to the farmers of 
Homer and Spencer townships, that their surplus trade 
can readily and speedily be freighted to market when- 
ever the price will justify. The soil, the locality, and 
the industrial habits of those who ow T n the land in the 
township, indicate that before many years Homer town- 
ship will compare, in proportion to age, with any other 
portion of Medina county in agriculture. 

Many of the farmers are of German descent, and are 
of that class who strive to make their fields a little 
more productive, by manuring the ground they culti- 
vate. The soil is well adapted to the growth of wheat, 
corn and grass ; and the rapid increase of cattle, hogs 
and slice}), give evidence that the owners of the lands 
know what kind of stock is best calculated to enrich 
the owners. 

When the township was first organized there were 
only nineteen voters. When the lister traveled over 
the township to get a list of the personal property for 
taxation he returned seven horses and forty-two cattle. 



121 



Ifo.MP.H. 



Let the present owners of lands, now in the townshp, 
read the following statistical table, returned by the 
assessor in 1861, and compare it with the above return 
and learn the commendable advances they have made. 

It is due to the citizens of Homer to say that there 
are fewer mortgages upon the real estate in that town- 
ship that upon many of the older settled townships in 
the county. 



HOMElt STATISTIC; 



TK It SO N AL PBOPK11T V. 


Number. 


Value. 


Horses, ._._-- 


529 


$27,787 


Cattle, - - 


1,460 


13,513 


Sheep. ------- 


2,685 


4,155 


Hogs, ------ 


1,049 


2,390 


Carriages and Wagons, - 


185 


5,247 


Merchandise. - 




1,330 


Moneys and Credits* - 




25,174 


Putter, pounds. - 


58,760 


L 5.8 70 
F2,450 


Cheese, " - - 


36,960 


Wheat, bushels, - 


18,447 


13,400 


Corn, " _____ 


02,251 


15,560 


Yearly product as listed in 108 1, 




$116,788 



If to the foregoing be added 
from the cultivation of clover 



value that results 
grass seeds, oats, 



the 

and 
potatoes, orchards and gardens, they would yearly 
amount to $35,000 — making the yearly value of the 
products of the township to be about one hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars. 



LIVERPOOL. 

NARRATIVE BY MOSES DEMMING 

At the age of seventy, being the third time a widower, 
I sit down lonesome arid disconsolate to write a short 
history of my life. When I take a retrospective view 
of the many dangers that have beset my path, I am 
constrained to exclaim — Lord! how often hast thou 
been my Protector and guide ! ! 

I was born in Southbury,{New Hampshire county, 
Connecticut. December 4, 1777. My father's name was 
John. He was born in East Hampton, New York, in 
1727. of .Scotch descent. My mother's maiden name 
was Anna Knowles. They were the owners of one acre 
of land, and as mall dwelling where they raised and sup- 
ported a family of four sons and five daughters. My 
father was in the French war, and during the Revolu- 
tionary war, was frequently called out on alarms. 
"When Banbury was destroyed by fire, he was present 
under command of a Militia Captain, whose courage 
was not of that kind that gained him renown as an 
officer, being more inclined to protect himself behind 
a wall, than to show himself in open fight. 

My father enlisted when over forty years old, being 
fired with that true patriotism that spurred on the men 
in those days to fight for family and for home. 

Mother was feeble, but not disheartened. She toiled 
daily to gain a scanty subsistence for her large family. 
Father sent money frequently, to aid in procuring fam- 
ily necessaries. Rut the depreciated currency then paid 



I *JG LIVERPOOL 

out to soldiers (continental paper) was of little value. 
and it often happened that the month's pay would 
hardly purchase provision sufficient for one week. I 
have heard my mother say that once she offered the 
whole wages that lather had received for one month for 
a loaf of bread, and could not get it. I can remember 
when turnips were our bread and meat, and if a thin 
slice of bread was obtained, it was considered a luxury. 
It was not unusual to go to bed supperless. 

At the close of the war we were greeted with the 
return of our father from ' whose lips I have often 
heard details of the many and severe privations endur- 
ed during the Revolutionary struggle. Father sold 
his pay that he received as a soldier, for two shillings 
and sixpence on the pound, and got in silver sixty dol- 
lars. This was considered a large sum of money in 
our family- Both my parents died in the year 1809, 
aged eighty-two and seventy-seven years. At the age 
of fifteen, I had been bound out to learn the Black- 
smith trade. At the age of twenty-one I went to 
Waterbury. While at work there I became acquainted 
and captivated with Ruth Warner. There was some- 
thing so pleasing in her manners and conversation that 
t could never forget her. After leaving that place I 
roamed from place to place, seeing new objects, and 
seeking new sources of wealth or comfort, and again 
returned home, not five dollars better off than when I 
left. It is true that while traveling I had sometimes 
a little good luck, again much ill luck. Sometimes 
enjoying pleasant seasons, then again it seemed as 
though the very elements opposed my progress. Deep 
snow, high waters, severe colds and mud were encoun- 
tered by me in many rambles, and caused me to exert 
my ingenuity and physical power to advance. I now 
came to the couclusion that if I ever intended to pros- 



LIVERPOOL. 127 

per, I musi cease rambling and settle down. 1 accord- 
ingly commenced my trade, ased economy, arid in due 
course of time could say that I was out of debt, and 
had some cash on hand. Thinking seriously that a 
stationary life and a suitable companion would add to 
my comfort 1 visited Ruth Warner, proposed, and was 
married to her June 1, 1802. ] became the owner of 
twenty acres, which I improved and by diligence and 
the very prudent economy of my wife, we gained a 
good share of the necessaries of life. By industry we 
added twenty acres more to our original purchase. 
After some time I concluded to sell and seek land else- 
where. I found a live Yankee who offered to purchase 
and pay in wooden clocks. At first I declined to trade, 
having never seen the inner workings of a wooden 
time piece. In order to make myself acquainted with 
clockology. as manufactured under the wooden creed, 
I assumed the responsibility of taking my own apart, 
and examining its mysteries. I spent the main portion 
of the day in unfixing and rcfixing it. and then con- 
cluded that I was prepared, after serving an apprentice- 
ship to myself, to repair wooden clocks. 

Believing myself now an adept in the way of fixing 
clocks, I bought twelve clocks for one hundred and 
twenty dollars, and started out as a clock pedler. I 
remained abroad about six weeks and returned with 
cattle valued at one hundred and eighty dollars, having 
made about sixty dollars clear. 

Shortly thereafter, I sold my 40 acres of stony, hilly, 
poor land for one hundred and two dollars, and agreed 
to give possession in one year thereafter, and started 
into Onondagua on a peddling excursion. I had, while 
traveling, contracted for and owned a small farm and 
dwelling on the east bank of Scanecttles Lake, about 
four miles from its outlet. Our now home was delight- 



128 LTVKRVOOTi. 

ful and our neighbors tru^ kin«l and religious. To 

stock my new farm, T. sold clocks for cattle, geese or 
any kind of trade that people would barter for wooden 
tfme-pveces. About this time my brother Davis and 
others had become deeply engaged in the making and 
selling Miner's Wheel- heads. As I had been successful 
in bartering clocks, T entered into the wheel-head trade 
and did a good business for some time. In course of 
time the wheel-head trade declined and eventually was 
placed in the same catalogue with wooden nutmegs. 

About this time a religious revival commenced in 
our new neighborhood, and, thank God, myself and 
wife became converts. From then I date a new and 
happy era in my life. For many years prior I had been 
an open and bold infidel ; looking upon professors as 
hypocrites and the Bible as falacious. From that pe- 
riod of my life, up to the present, I must say that the 
Bible has been my life chart, and the company of 
Christian people my delight, and after having lived on 
earth four score years T wish to bear testimony that in 
the religion of Christ there is a solace, a comfort that 
the world knows not. In the winter of 1810, Father 
Warner and Mr. Warden visited Ohio to look at Town- 
ship No. 4, in -llange 15, of the Connecticut Western 
Reserve, then in Portage county, (now Liverpool, in 
Medina Co.) Mr. Warner had corresponded with Mr. 
Coit, the proprietor, and learned the price per acre. 
In 1811, Mr. Warner, accompanied by Alpheus War- 
ner and wife, and three young men as passengers, star- 
ted for Liverpool. As they came by my residence, and 
had tarried with me, I was easily persuaded to accom- 
pany them. Father Warner and myself were supplied 
with clocks, which we sold or traded as we travelled. 
We arrived at Columbia on the last day of February, 
1811. When at Cleveland, on our way to Columbia, 



LIVERPOOL. 129 

Mr. Huntington urged me to buy a lot in that town for 
$60, and pay part in a clock, and the balance in any 
kind of trade we then had with us. The lot offered to 
me contained one acre and a fourth, and is the same 
lot on which the Court House now stands. Cleveland 
was then reported to be sickly, and the scrub oaks 
seemed to indicate that the ground was too poor to 
raise white beans ; so we could not make a trade. I 
traveled many miles over what is now called Columbia, 
Liverpool and Brunswick, exploring and deciding upon 
the most available portion to purchase and prepare to 
locate ; and, after due deliberation, made choice of the 
farm on which I now (1860) reside. I contracted with 
a young man to make an opening and prepare a field 
to plant in corn the coming spring ; and on 15th March 
started for home. Nothing of import happened on my 
way. When I got home I made preparations to move, 
selling off all that I could not take with me conven- 
iently. I owned eleven head of young cattle that I 
determined to take with me if possible. Late in April 
we filled our wagon with such articles as we supposed 
essential, topping off our load with a quantity of wheel 
heads, and, hitching on a team of oxen and one horse, 
set out on our tedious journey. The driving of the 
cattle through woods and across streams, caused us 
trouble and toil. We progressed at the average speed 
of sixteen miles per day. Our wheel heads aided in 
paying our expenses at places where we tarried over 
night. From Cleveland to Columbia, a distance of 
twelve miles, there were no inhabitants, and in many 
places the roads were heavy. We traveled hard from 
early dawn to late eve in making that distance. The 
roads were very deep, and our chances to avoid deep 
mud, few and far between, unless we had cut an entire- 
ly new road. Prior to our arrival, there had been 
1.7 



130 LIVERPOOL. 

heavy rains, waters were high, and fordings rather 
dangerous. In attempting to cross a creek, the round 
poles composing the bridge were floating in an eddy 
over the two long stringers. I urged the cattle forward, 
and when they stepped on the poles they gave way and 
let the cattle into the water between ihe stringers. I 
stood on a stringer with a stout pole, pushed the head 
of each one of the cattle under the stringer and forced 
it through into the current, and by this means, after 
many punches with the pole and much grappling of 
horns, I got all my cattle over. We left our wagon, 
took a few of the necessary articles, traveled up the 
stream to where we found it more shallow, and after 
much toil and circuitous travel, we arrived at Liver- 
pool on the 18th day of May, having traveled twenty 
days 

On the 1st day of June Sally Warner was born, and 
it may with certainty be recorded that she was the first 
child born in Liverpool township. 

On 28th February, 1812, Father Warner came with 
his family and settled in Liverpool township. Our 
neighborhood was now composed of four families, and 
it seamed as though company was plenty. We were all 
friendly and all willing to aid each other. At this time 
I had in my employ a young fellow whom I had hired 
to aid in clearing land, and other services. His dispo- 
sition was any oiher than kind. One day he seemed 
droopish, and I thought proper to inquire what was 
the uiatter. He showed me his hands and arms, when 
I made the discovery that he was literally splotched 
with itch, and his clothes were densely peopled with 
lice. To have him about my house in that condition 
would not answer, and I therefore set my wits to work 
to cure the disease and exterminate the vermin. Wife 
and self had some fears lest the red men might molest 



LIVERPOOL. 131 

us, but when we found the itch and lice likely to be 
inmates of our cabin, we took courage, made battle by 
scrubbing and washing with ashes, sand and soap, any 
amount of hot water and bark ooze, and finally routed 
the enemies, who never returned to make a second at- 
tack. Our kindness to the fellow did not secure his 
friendship. Often, when driving the oxen, if he could 
find a hornet's nest or a swarm of yellow-jackets, it was 
his delight to drive the cattle among them and then 
witness the pain and misery he caused to be inflicted 
on the dumb animals. I sent him adrift; he get on 
board an armed ship, where he was guilty of mutiny, 
and was hung at Boston. 

My wife who had been a sharer in the toils and in- 
cidents consequent to a life in the West, had declined 
gradually in hea'th for some years. I had painfully 
watched the advances of disease, and although I used 
every prudent means to ward off the fatal shaft, I could 
not withstand the purpose of an over-ruling Providence, 
She died on the 26th July. 1812. Father Warnor and 
myself selected the grave yard where we interred her. 
She was the first white person buried in Liverpool 
Township. Prior to her death, I had been busily em- 
ployed in getting out timber for a barn, which was raised 
after her death, and was the first fame barn put up 
in the Township, and was the only frame barn between 
Cleveland and the River Raisin. 

On the 4th June, 1812, war was declared, but our 
want of information by means of newspapers, preven- 
ted us, at first, from being much excited. We dreaded 
the Indians, but still supposed that those then at the 
head of our brave men would be able to protect us 
from danger. We had heard that Hull was doing good 
service and we reposed confidence in his valor. After 
the death of my wife T had hired Louisa Bron?on t 



132 LIVERPOOL. 

take charge of my house and to cook. One night 
when sleeping soundly Tre were all aroused by the rap 
of father Warner at the door, holding the unexpected 
news that Detroit had surrendered, and that the British 
were landing at Huron ; that the people at Columbia 
were packing up to leave, and wislrng us to be at T. 
Doan's next morn by sunrise, to go with them to Hud- 
ion. Miss Bronson commenced getting early breakfast. 
I commenced putting the hay rack on the wagon and 
fixing light puncheons as a bottom, (we had no boards) 
iind by the time breakfast was ready we were ready to 
load the wagon. Then thinking our return uncertain, 
I turned all of my cattle into the oat-field and let my 
hogs roam where they pleased. We selected and 
loaded such household goods as we thought we should 
need. I had a traveling trunk in which I had kept all 
my valuable papers. I placed that trunk in the center 
of the floor so that I might not forget it when loading, 
but strange to tell such was our haste and confusion 
that we forgot that trunk and started, leaving it in the 
same spot where I had placed it. We traveled with 
one pair of oxen and a pair of young steers. In get- 
ting to Mr. Doan's, such was our hurry and confusion 
that we would travel through oat-fields or any other 
inclosure to shorten distance or avoid bad roads, and 
leave all fences down-. By the time all had congregated 
at Mr. Doan's the number was considerable, including 
young and old. 

We started on our retreat excursion in contused or- 
der, and our progress did not exceed two miles each 
hour. Mrs. Scofield, one of our company, had an 
infant only three days old. In order that she might 
get along as comfortably as possible, her husband fas- 
tened a bed on a colt, got her comfortably seated on it, 
and he, leading the colt, kept up with the caravan. At 



LIVERPOOL. L33 

night wc placed no sentinels around our camp, for the 
reason that we had but one gun for all and only two 
loads of ammunition. About one o'clock at night 
Levi Bronson, returning from Cleveland, came across 
our camp and gave us the intelligence that it was pris- 
oners that landed at Huron, not the British, and that 
we were in no imminent danger. This intelligence 
caused us to hold a council, and after various sugges- 
tions we came to the conclusion to return to Columbia 
and build a block house. The next day we returned 
and put in execution our resolve. The block house 
was planned and erected, and Capt. Headley became 
the commander. One-half of the men were detained 
on duty while the other half were allowed to attend to 
their home duties. I made a practice of going to 
Liverpool every morning, when not detained on duty, 
and returning to Columbia in the evening. I drove 
my cows to Columbia, but fattened my hogs at Liver- 
pool. They thrived well, though only Jed once daily. 
All the women and children remained at Columbia for 
some time. Finding fear of the enemy subsiding, I 
came to the conclusion to stay and sleep in my cabin, 
with my dog as my only companion. In a few months 
I contracted with Mr. Morgan, to whom I rented my 
farm for four years, and being still a widower, and 
having no children to provide for, I concluded to seek 
some more settled and easy life. I went to Euclid and 
engaged to teach school. While there I came to the 
conclusion that I would cease to be a widower if I could 
find a woman upon whom I could bestow my affections. 
I became acquainted with Miss Clarissa Cranny, of 
Euclid, and we became husband and wife on 11th 
March, 1813. We returned to my farm the following 
April, bought back the lease I had made with Mr. 
Morgan, and re-commenced house-keeping. At the 



i.ii - LrVEIU'OOi.. 

expiration of fifteen mouths we hud a daughter born. 
For several days my wife was sick, but not thought dan- 
gerously so. But while hope seemed brightest, the 
night of sorrow was near. My second wife died and 
left to my care and keeping a helpless infant only a lew 
days old. Her grave was the second in Liverpool 
Township, Mr. H. H. Coit had come and commenced 
digging for salt, and "was a boarder at my house when 
my wife died. 

My child was a groat concern to me. and having tried 
several places where I had every evidence that she 
would be well cared for, I thought I would cease fret- 
ting, but when alone or when in company. I still felt 
as though I should make my home the abode of my 
child. I therefore came to the conclusion to seek a 
third wife. I had hoard much of the character of 
Jerusha Russell, who was the teacher of a school at 
Newburg. She was a native of Windsor, in Connecti- 
cut, and had an unblemished reputation. I sought an 
interview and was successful. We were married on the 
24th November, 1814. A third time I commenced 
adding to my improvements, and in all my efforts to 
gain necessary comforts, I was constantly aided by my 
wife. To me she was a faithful companion, and to my 
^hild she w-ts a kind and exemplary step-mother. 
About this period in my western peregrinations and 
settlement, disease attacked my cattle, horses and hogs, 
which continued for two years. I lost within that pe- 
riod, seventy Cattle, ten horses and all my hogs. The 
disease was supposed to originate from some poisonous 
weed or roots that decayed and settled in the marshy 
ponds of stagnant water that then were numerous a ! ong 
the river valley. 

In the year 1816, the township of Liverpool was 
organized, with the following boundaries: Containing 



LIVERPOOL. 135 

all the territory west of the Twelfth Range, to the tire 
lands, and all south of township No. Five, to the south 
line of No. One, being the south line of the Reserve, 
and being then a part of Portage county. H. H. Coit 
and myself were the two first Justices of the Peace, 
from which I derived no profit but much trouble. The 
territory over which we exercised judicial control 
was extensive, though as yet sparsely settled. When 
litigants came to me for law, I generally got the cases 
decided by a compromise, and closed judicial proceed- 
ings by feeding the disputants from a portion of my 
limited means, and sending them home friendly to each 
other. 

I will here narrate the manner in which cases were 
decided when we did not wish our official duties to 
prevent us from attending to the more necessary duties 
of providing necessaries for ourselves. I had started 
early and traveled four miles to ask three men to come 
and help me roll some logs. When we got to my cabin 
I found a man waiting, whose face showed that he had 
been fully engaged in a fight. He* said that he had 
come six miles to see me and learn what the law was 
as to Assault and Batterry, as he had been pretty well 
battered. The Bible was on a board which I wished 
him to take down, and read the law for himself. He 
took the book (I had no statute in the cabin at that 
time) and after turning over many pages, (I soon dis- 
covered that he coul4 not read) he asked me on what 
page he could find the law of Battery. I told him I 
did not recollect the page, but I could give him the 
words of the law as recorded in that book. He said 
the law was what he wished to know, so that he might 
have some idea what sum he could recover from the 
man who had whipped him. I told him the words of 
the law in that book were; " He that smiteth thee on 



136 LIVERPOOL. 

the one cheek, turn to him the other also." He looked 
at me, then at the book, took his hat and as he left 
said, that law was too devilish poor to do him any 
good. 

I wish to close this hastily compiled narrative with 
a few personal remarks. My life has been one of 
change ; I have tested privations ; I have experienced 
afflictions ; I have toiled hard ; yet when I think of 
the privations, the afflictions and hardships that others 
endured, I must frankly say, that a kind Providence 
has, in my old days, blessed me with competence, and 
surrounded me with many friends. My prayer is, that 
those who follow after me may reap, from my exertions 
in former years, a full competence of the good things 
of life, and when they die, may they have the well 
grounded hope of a glorious immortality ! 



MBS. WARNER'S NARRATIVE— CHEESE MAKING. 

Mrs. Warner, wife of William, had been reared in 
the school of industry, and when first settling in her 
wilderness cabin she plainly discovered that invention 
was as necessary as labor, in order that some things 
might be done. She thought her table poorly suppied 
if cheese was wanting. Knowing that 1 er husband 
was daily employed, and had not time to attend to all 
that must be done, she undertook to make a cheese- 
press. 

She rolled a short log to the corner of t^e cabin and 
fixed it firmly on one end, next she took a puncheon 
and placed one end in the opening between the logs 
and soon made the discovery that a few stones placed 
on the other end would create leverage. She used the 



LIVERPOOL. l:t: 

rlan of an old seive for a cheese-rim, into which she 
put the curd, surrounded by a cloth, placed that on the 
top of the upright log, placed the puncheon properly, 
put on stones at the extreme end, and soon had the 
satisfaction of knowing that cheese could be pressed 
and made. That rudely constructed press was used by 
her for many years, and she has the satisfaction of tell- 
ing that from then to the present time (i860) she has 
never been without cheese, and that always made by 
herself. 

To Mrs. Warner the privations incident to an early 
settlement did not seem insurmountable ; and if any 
one will call now and see her, they will find her em- 
ployed in making, planning, arranging and providing 
articles that are calculated to make any one comfort- 
able. Things neccessary, useful and comfortable are 
such as she delights to have on hand. 

When we came to Liverpool on 20th September, 
1815, we began clearing off and erecting a hastily con- 
structed cabin within a few rods of our present resi- 
dence. During the day-time there were some rays of 
hope that prompted us to toil, but when the gloom of 
night surrounded our little cabin we often thought of 
the State from which we started, and the many kind 
friends from whom we seemed to be wholly separated. 

After getting our cabin erected and completed so as 
to shelter us from rain and storm, there were many 
necessaries yet unprovided. For many months we 
were without a table. I had learned that a common 
white wood table was for sale in Columbia, and I was 
determined to purchase it if within my means. Having 
brought my wheel and reel with me, I was willing to 
ply them for the purpose of aiding in the purchase of 
needed household materials. I got flax of Mr. Justus 
Warner and spun, with mv own hands, twenty runs of 
18 



138 LIVERPOOL. 

linen yarn, with winch I purchased the table. We had 
beds and bedding, but no bedsteads. Mr. Warner shaved 
walnut rails, nailed them together- and made two bed- 
steads. When they were set in the two corners of our 
cabin and the beds made thereon we seemed quite com- 
fortable, and things seemed to look neatly. The large 
chest in which we had packed and hauled our beds and 
fine clothing was placed on end in a corner and served 
us as a cupboard for two years. We had no coffee in 
our house for the first eight years. I had brought a 
pound of tea with mo which lasted us over fourteen 
months. A rude grist mill had been constructed at 
Columbia where we got our scanty quantities of wheat 
ground. Once we failed to get our wheat ground, and 
were forced to find bread from some other source. I 
sifted the bran very carefully, of our former grists, (it 
was in the summer season and we did not then use 
bran,) from which 1 got flour that made us bread for 
several days. In the summer season 1 cooked, washed 
and ironed clothes out of doors without then thinking 
that the rays of the sun would tan my face and hands. 
Shoes I wore when visiting or going to church during 
warm weather, but when at home doing work about 
my bouse I could do very well without them. 

When leaving New Haven county, Connecticut, I 
had packed up a small bundle of apple-seeds, and after 
we had about ten acres cleared I went out, in the sea- 
son for planting tree seeds, and planted the seeds I had 
brought. The orchard now seen is the growth of those 
seeds. 1 name this to show what great accommodations 
in the future result from small means. Our grand- 
children now eat the fruit that resulted from the care 
and labor of their grandmother forty-five years since. 
Mr. Warner concluded to build a barn and cover it 
with shingles. We had a fattened hog in the pen, which 



LlVEiU'OUL. 139 

he killed and hauled on a drug to Columbia and sold 
the pork, getting one hundred pounds of nails for 
three hundred pounds of pork, and felt satisfied with 
the trade. It took him a whole day to get to and from 
Columbia, because of the obstacles in the road. For 
the first set of tea-ware we bought in Ohio, I paid $5, 
which is still in the house, and at the present time 
would cost about $1 00. I have in my keeping a leg- 
horn bonnet purchased fifty years since, that is worthy 
of examination by the ladies of modern times. The 
bonnet was once very fashionable, and for texture and 
shape was a model. I have also a wedding dress that 
forty-five years since was in fashion. I also have a 
tea-pot, sugar-bowl and stock glass that were in use 
more than one hundred years since. The modern belle 
when viewing such articles will learn what was com- 
mendable and attractive in the gala days of their grand- 
mothers. In my early days I was a trained pupil in 
the school of industry, and taught that labor was com- 
mendable. Keeping that motto in mind I made it my 
duty to engage in employments that would be suitable 
and profitable. I now have counted my three score 
and ten years, yet in order to feel comfortable and to 
make life pass pleasantly. I work every day, not for 
gain, but for comfort. I still spin and make our wool 
into flannel, and wculd think it wrong to hire spinning 
while I can do it and be benefitted. I look upon labor 
as commendable, and while I shall continue to have 
health let me have useful employment. 

The first sermon preached in Liverpool Township 
was at our cabin, by Rev. Simeon Woodrough. Al- 
though our house was small it contained the congrega- 
tion comfortably. Mr. Warner spent a whole day 
walking and informing the neighbors that there would 
be preaching. At the first prayer meeting, the follow- 



110 U YIUM'OOL 

fing was the order of exercises : Justus Warner read 
'prayers from the Episcopal prayer book. Col. H. Coit 
[read a sermon. David Hudson made some remarks 
ind John Bigelow gave the concluding prayer. Epis- 
lopalians, Methodists, Congregationalists and Baptists 
ill worshipped together at that first prayer meeting, and 
iach one seemed ready to exclaim, " How good and 
pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity." 
•Uould the same kind feeling influence now that then 
was manifest, contention, strife and jealousy would not 
jule to the extent it now does. It seemed to me that 
ivery petition offered on that day met the hearty amen 
of every person present. 

In harvest seasons I have often assisted in gathering 
and securing our scanty crops. The cultivation in the 
garden was, for many years, left wholly on my care. 
Could the present generation see the wild state of gar- 
den and fields that once existed, they would be surprised. 
Stumps in gardens were many and not far between. In 
the fields logs and log-heaps were numerous. At 
night visits from the wild animals of the forest were 
frequent. Snakes were numerous and often came near, 
and even into our cabins. Our cattle often strayed 
into the wilderness, and caused much trouble to find 
them. 

My race is very nearly terminated. I have lived to 
see the township densely inhabited, to see churches 
erected, to see roads permantly established, to see good 
school houses erected, to see farms improved, to see the 
wilderness disappear, and to see and know that most of 
the grand-children now living enjoy a competence that 
resulted from the toil and privations endured by their 
grand-fathers, and I, in my old days, wish them 
continual blessings. 



U YKKIMHH,. HI 

HAKDSCKABBLE— BY JMBS. it. HINCKUEY. 

Our duty is to follow our little band, as well as we 
are able, through early troubles, in a new settlement- 
Therefore we go back a half-century, to the State of 
Old Connecticut, in the town of Waterbury, at the 
house of Justus Warner, where we cooked the last 
Christmas supper, ere the departure of Justus and 
others for New Connecticut, as Ohio was by them 
termed. There the goose was dissected, the puddings 
done justice by, and after the Good-Byes, were passed 
as freely as the cake and cider which preceeded them, 
then came the packing and confusion incident to 
such occasions. Justus, with his son Alpheus, and 
Minerva, his young bride, equipped with two two- 
horse teams, with fifty long corded, wooden, Waterbury 
cloeks ; two young men named Ely L. Seeley and 
David Scoville, took leave of their homes and friends 
with throbbing hearts and tearful faces. 

To give our modern belles a minute description of 
the lonely young wife on her weary pilgrimage, would 
in all probability, disturb too much their nervous sys- 
tem ; therefore we pass on, only noting one night's 
lodging, for example. We drew up at a small log 
tavern, (says our narrator) which was already full ; but 
we brought in our own beds and distributed them 
about the floor, and ourselves into them to the best ad- 
vantage. Justus being the oldest, was entitled to the 
first chance in bed, and the courtesy generally accorded 
to women, gave her the next, or second place, and the 
husband was the rightful and lawful owner of a place 
beside his wife. The rest were bestowed promiscuous- 
ly. And as the wood fire cast her fitful light athwart 
the wall, that young wife (after drawing up her feet, to 
keep them out of the ashes) " sought to lose in sleep 



142 U'\i;n]'(>OL 

awhile her useless tenors,'' and succeeded too; but ere 
long-, a large sow with her family, forced open the 
door, and sought a place of rest also. In the act of 
rooting her bed, the sleepers were awakened. She be- 
ing a large black animal, they supposed a bear was in 
their midst. So the cry of " a bear! a bear !" was sent 
up, and amid the uproar of the disturbed Irishmen, 
who came pouring down the ladder, and tlie hunting in 
vain for the gun, there was more diversion than sleep. 

But morning came at last, and our party jogged on, 
changing wagons for sleighs, as the weather changed. 
Moses Demming had joined our party in York State, 
as he had married Ruth, the daughter of Justus, and 
was willing to try his fortune in the wilderness. An 
Irishman named Clark, was taken as a passenger, and 
thus, after fifty- two weary days' journey, we drove the 
cattle and hogs out of a miserable hut in Columbia, 
and pronounced ourselves the inhabitants thereof, un- 
til we could erect cabins of our own in Salt Spring- 
Town, (for she did not yet claim the infamous cognomen 
of Hardscrabble.) The work of progression commenced 
on the place which we younger generations know as 
the Wetherbeck place. There a small spot was cleared, 
just large enongh for our rude hut to stand upon, and 
when one-half of the roof was on, and as much of the 
floor wns laid, we moved in. And then we fully real- 
ized "that poverty is truly the mother of invention." 

We had rived out long shingles to cover our house, 
and they proved a great advantage to us in the form- 
ation of tables, book-cupboards, bed-steads, lounges, 
&c. Perhaps it would be idle to tell our fastidious 
ones, that our bed-stead had but one leg, and our table 
was made without castors, and the book-cupboard for 
the novels and stories of our friend Scoville, was a hol- 
low log with shingle shelves. For chairs we used the 



LIVERPOOL. M- 

boxes 'n which we had brought our clocks. Our 
implements for work, consisted of our axes and hoes 
we had brought with us, and a shovel belonging to Mr. 
Demining. There was an adz, too, which Minerva 
often used to good purpose on her rough floor. 

So now our lady is fairly provided with her dower, 
with nature's wilds for her garden, the feathered tribes 
for her songsters, Indians, squaws and pappooses for her 
neighbors, let us imagine her doing the work for six per- 
sons, while we look after the male occupants of our man- 
sion. Land was to be cleared; salt to be made ; so in 
good earnest they went to work. Justus, with his teams, 
brought kettles from Canton, placed them on poles, and 
from the puddles of salt water manufactured salt. 
Wood was plenty, so it did not cost him much to keep 
his kettles hot, nor the housewife as many words as it 
does us of the present day to cook her fare. Our three 
young men, Seeley, Scoville and Clark, have begun 
chopping ; and Alpheus, like the man we read of, had 
a wife, and could not work. But Mr. Demming had 
gone back to fetch Ruth to be company for Minerva, 
the lone woman of the wilderness ; so I suppose she 
sang, or might have sung — 

"Hope, thou bird of the golden wing, 

Thou art ever hovering o'er us ; 
Thou dost many a song of rapture sing, 

Telling of joys betore us." 
But at last she came, and in less than one month 
there was another visitant in the rude log cabin. A 
'* wee thing" came, and the mother's heart was stirred, 
and the fountains of affection awoke. Sally Urania the 
baby was christened, and she was the first child born in 
Medina county, and her children's children sat upon 
their great, great grandfather's knee, and formed the 
fifth generation. Our family now consisted of nine per- 
SOM. 



14-1 LIVERPOOL. 

The work of cultivation still wont on. Minerva, 
with a case-knife made trenches and planted apple- 
seeds which her children of the fourth generation now 
in 1860 frequently eat of. Our garden spot was 
cleared and planted with all the various kinds of seeds 
which we had brought with us, sixty different kinds 
in all. Six acres was cleared and planted with corn. 
Justus passed most of the summer in trying to turn 
Rocky River in her course, but all to no purpose, for 
what with fever and ague, and very little calculation, he 
brought nothing to pass. Fall saw him on his journey 
back to old Connecticut after his family. Seeley, Scq- 
ville and Clark left also. Moses Demming had begun 
keeping house by himself, Oliver Ten ill was hired by 
Alpheus to do a job of chopping, and at Christmas 
there was to be something done in the then wilderness, 
to hand down to posterity. So every man then in 
town, which was Oliver, Seeley, John Jacobs and Al- 
pheus, all chopped at once on a large oak tree near 
where Hubbard's house now stands, and every woman, 
which was Ruth and Minerva, looked on to see it fall. 
The first cut made one hundred and sixty rails. The 
weather was so warm that baby needed a parasol over it 
to keep the sun off, and so cold in Connecticut that the 
illumination was given up — so said the letters of Aaron 
and Minerva. Then came supper, and the wild turkey 
was roasted, the wild jokes were cracked, and the wild 
laughter rang out through the wild forest, and every 
man, woman and child sat around the shingle table of 
our hostess. So much for Christmas. 

Think not, dear reader, that starvation 'stared us in 
the face. No, no, the wild bees afforded sweets for 
our table, the seeds we had brought and planned had 
provided pumpkins for pies, the marshes yielded cran- 
berries for our desert, our <?ow was cream for our tea, 



LIVERPOOL. 145 

and we did not lack meat, for game was plenty, and we 
made our own salt to salt it with ; add to these a good 
supply of wild plums, grapes, pawpaws, mandrakes, 
blackberries, raspberries, billberries, crab-apples, goose- 
berries, and wild hops for both beer and bread, a 
variety of nuts to lay by for winter use, and we have 
food worthy to be eaten on the large clean chip for a 
plate, with a sharp stick for a fork, and a pocket knife 
for a carver, as was often done when in the course of 
events the dishes brought with them had become bro- 
ken. A hard shell of a squash served for a sugar-bowl, 
gourds were used for dippers, and many other things 
were substituted for things worn out. 

Oliver and Seeley were one day chopping about a 
half a mile from the house, when Oliver, by a miss 
stroke, laid the edge of his ax into his foot, making a 
horrible wound, Seeley took him on his back and 
carried him home, only stopping once to rest on the 
way. Oliver weighed one hundred and ninety-two 
pounds at that time. Minerva and Seeley dressed the 
foot, and in time it got well. 

Spring brought Justus and Urania his wife, with 
Aaron, Adna., Justus, jr., and Joanna, their children, 
back to Salt Spring Town. 

Perhaps it would not be amiss to give our readers a 
few of the many little anecdotes concerning Justus, or 
Grandpa, as he was universally called. He had a very 
peculiar laugh, a very peculiar mode of expression, and 
was withal a very peculiar man. He was not a man 
given to profanity, yet in cases of great emergency he 
was known to vigorously ejaculate, " the devil!" 

The old road from here to Columbia went along on 

the hog's back, west of Mr. Spooner's house. All may 

now see that beautiful hill, and they will also see one 

little rise, then a valley of some length, then another 

19 



146 LIVERPOOL. 

little hill. From the top of one of these hills to the 
top of the other Aaron and Adna had trained the old 
horse to go with railroad speed, always stopping at the 
end of his race course. So one day Grandpa set forih 
on a journey to Columbia ; but as he ascended the 
hill, lo ! the old horse struck into a dead run, and he 
hung on for dear life, only saying " whoa ! whoa ! the 
devil !" but his speed abated not in the least until he as- 
cended the next hill and stopped himself. Grandpa 
looked about and repeated "ah!'* very deliberately, and 
proceeded on his journey. The horse did not find 
tongue and tell of this, but Oliver and Seeley did, for 
they were chopping by the way-side, and but for them 
the secret might have remained with Grandpa and the 
old horse to this day. 

Our family was now becoming larger, but aristocracy 
had not moved in. To give our readers a little sketch 
of the wardrobe of a squatter and his family, would 
perhaps, not be uninteresting to our fantastic hooped 
ones, in particular, for they may be able to draw a 
slight comparison. Behold, then, the father decked in 
a doe skin shirt, a deer skin vest and buck skin pants, 
and children arrayed in robes of the same material, 
sewed with the same leather whang as their thread was 
termed, and we have a more substantial wardrobe even 
than had our first parents with their aprons of fig 
leaves. Shoes were made of untanned leather, cut in 
one piece and sewed on the instep. 

We come now to the summer of 1812. And now if 
our work was fiction and romance, we could write of 
sighing zephyrs and singing birds, of gentle slopes and 
flowery dells, with flattering swains and fainting ladies ; 
for our heros and heroines, we would marry some and 
let others die, to suit the convenience of our story. 
But no, our romance is but plain reality ; hardships 



LIVERPOOL. 147 

endured by our own fathers and mothers, to gain for 
us, their children, a home. So we sit and listen with 
the deepest interest to the stories which they narrate, 
for their trembling steps and silver locks tell us we 
may not long be permitted to pen these things from 
their own lips. 

Death came, and Ruth was wrapped in her winding 
sheet and consigned to the cold grave. A place was to 
be selected for a burial ground, for the hand of death 
was even in the wilderness. Grandpa and Minerva 
went forth to seek a place for her tomb. They came 
to our beautiful hill, covered then as densly with its 
trees and bushes as it is now with its monuments and 
marbles, its willows and roses, and its grassy mounds 
which mark the resting places of the long since for- 
gotten. There on the most beautiful of mornings, 
they cut through the roots of the trees with an ax, and 
with a hoe dug the rude grave and shed the bitter 
tears of affection, and slowly and sadly they consigned 
the body of their beloved Ruth to the grave. 

This was but the beginning of sorrow among us. 
War and its horrors stared us in the face. The mother 
clasped closely to her breast her babe ; the lips of the 
father trembled and grew pale, and the young men 
grasped firmly their fire-arms to defend the helpless. 
Then all waited in an agony of suspense until tidings 
came that Hull had surrendered up his army at Detroit, 
and the Indians and British were just upon us, and 
we must leave for older settlements. 

It would not be probable that all would give an 
exact story concerning those troublous times. And 
after forty years have passed, shall we expect no disa- 
greement in the different narration by different persons ? 
All could not be alike affected. Aaron says, Alph- 
eus, after working some time to get things ready for a 



148 LIVERPOOL. 

start looked up in astonishment and asked what the 
matter was, and what they were trying to do. 

Minerva found candles, hid her knives, forks and 
silver spoons in hollow logs, put away things the best 
she could to leave ; unpenned the pigs ; uncooped the 
chickens; turned out the cows with their calves; ar- 
aranged the bed on the sled for the invalid mother, and 
all took up their march for Captain Pritchard's, in 
Columbia. They arrived there just at sunrise and 
breakfasted on melons which were brought out, and 
then journeyed on to meet the Eidgeville and Columbia 
companies on the corners by old uncle Oliver Terrill's. 
There we agreed to go to Hudson, and proceeded eleven 
miles on our journey and camped for the night. .We 
stopped the noise of the bells on our oxen, ate our 
rude meals, and dispatched two messengers, Dr. Potter 
and Lathrop Seymour, to Cleveland, for farther news. 
A person was met bringing news that it was not Brit- 
tish or Indians, but Hull's soldiers on parole, so our 
panic subsided a little. In the camp was Minerva with 
with her babe, fifteen months old ; the wife of Scoville, 
with her infant, one week old, and another child two 
years old, and she and her two little ones sick with 
fever and ague, besides the rest that camped there. 
The horror of that night we cannot imagine, neither 
can pen describe it. 

Morning saw us on our way back, but when we ar- 
rived at Jim Doan's, bad news again met us, with in- 
vitations from Cleveland and Euclid to come there for 
protection. As they were all together, a council was 
held, and some were for a block-house in Columbia, 
some for Euclid, some for Cleveland. Demming and Oli- 
ver wentjback to Salt Spring Town. Justus and Alphe- 
us, with Scovill, and their wives, went to Hudson. The 
women staid seven weeks, and the men went back and 



LIVERPOOL, 149 

forth, till Minerva came back, and order was a little 
nearer restored. But still there was a great fear of 
being slain or massacred by the Indians. Part of our 
men boiled salt while others slept ; those that boiled 
always keeping watch for Indians. 

Neighbors now began to move in, and peace and 
prosperity once more began to shine upon us. Adna 
and Robinson kept bachelor's hall in a shanty seven 
feet square, on the Wolf place, until Adna got tired of 
it and left Robinson alone. Grand-pa kept house on 
the Wetherby place, Alpheus and Minerva on the 
corners by aunt Sally's, Aaron and Lucinda on the 
place they now own, Demming and Clarissa (his second 
wife) on his present farm, down by the river. Wilmot, 
Noah and John Mallet moved in, and at this time Jus- 
tus (or grandpa) began making improvements in his 
salt works by digging on this side of the river, as the 
old horse was often out of sight, and the salt-kettle he 
had proved by an actual demonstration would not float. 
One da} 7 he, with his son Justus, started to go across, 
but Old Rocky was on one of her freaks. Grand-pa 
stepped into his boat, took^his paddle and began row- 
ing for the other shore ; but, in spite of him, his little 
craft fast headed down stream. He did not know what 
to do. Justus shouted orders from the shore to no 
purpose. At last grand-pa repeated a very vehement 
"ah !" threw his paddle overboard, caught the rope at 
the end of the boat and pulled with a vengeance. 
Justus ran along the shore to a bend in the river, the 
boat came ashore, and he saved him from being 
drowned. 

Salt was readily exchanged for other things neces- 
sary to us. "There are boards now on my barn," says 
Aaron Warner, "which cost me one bushel of salt per 
thousand ; and the nails to put them on with, twenty 



150 LIVERPOOL. 

cents per pound, and brought them from Cleveland on 
horseback, being three days on the journey." Salt 
sold at $20 a barrel, and the price of an ax was $5. 

But I was going to tell of his success with his well 
on this side of the river. Minerva warned him not to 
fall in and drown in his own well, as Haman was 
hanged on his own gallows ; but he took no heed to 
her warning. There had been a fall of snow in the 
night, and grandpa arose early in the morning and 
proceeded to his well. Minerva was about breakfast, 
and the rest were asleep. Grandpa being gone longer 
than usual, she became alarmed, and ran to the well. 
His steps were easily traced there, and on looking in, 
there he stood up to his arm-pits in water, shivering 
and bibbering with cold. Minerva ran back, roused 
the men, and bade them take the ladder, on which they 
had descended from the chamber, and run to the well 
and get grandpa out, while she made him some toddy, 
and got him dry clothes. And when he had got over 
his bath, Minerva said, "I told you so." ''Ah!" said 
he, "I didn't fall into the well, I didn't. I slipped 
in, I did ; and I didn't think of Haman, nor Mordecai, 
nor the gallows. But I thought how near I came 
drowning, I did ; and I s'pose you never'll forget get- 
tin' your say, you wont." 

We shall now continue grand-pa's story, giving many 
of his sayings in his own language ; for all that knew 
him knew his mode of expressing his opinion. Two 
men had one day made a bargain, and, as is frequently 
the case, both had repented, thinking themselves 
cheated. So grandpa went and talked after this 
-fashion to them. Said he, "You both made a bargain, 
you did ; and ye both want to shlink, ye do. But ye 
needn't nary one on ye shlink ; I'll shlink for ye, and 
ye may look out how ye trade to shlink, ye may, and 



LIVERPOOL. 151 

take your property and go home." After lie was eighty 
years old, he climbed an apple tree to shake it, and fell 
and hurt him. Thereupon Mr. Muddiman, the Baptist 
minister, went and told him that such an old man 
ought not to be so presumptuous. "Ah !" said he, "I 
always fell when I was a young man, if the limb broke, 
and I always expect to fall when the limb breaks, I 
do." At the age of ninety-six, sajs Aunt Boxy Wor- 
den, he climbed an elm tree, and cut bean poles in my 
yard, and four years lUter we all assembled to celebrate 
his one hundredth birthday, He asked what we were 
all there for, and seemed very well pleased. They 
brought him pen and ink, and he wrote in a legible 
hand, on a blank leaf, in Minerva's Bible : 

The following lines were penned by Bhoda Hinckley 
on the occasion, although she claims no honor in the 
poetic line ; yet, for want of something better, she gives 
the lines below : 



A hundred years ago to-day, 
" A child is born," the people say 
As on his mother's lap he lay 
In helplessness and purity. 

To-day the people come once more, 
To see the little babe of yore ; 
His head with Time is silver'd o'er, 
In his second infancy. 



152 LIVERPOOL. 

None that his infant brow, 
Can look upon his pale cheek now 
Furrowed so deep with Time's old plow; 
For all are in their graves. 

But he forms plans to buy and sell, 
And will full many a story tell ; 
And thinks 'twould be " about as well 
To live a little loager." 

He's no more willing now to die, 
Although he's lived a century ; 
My gentle friend, as you or I, 
He clings to life as strong. 

Five generations came to see, 
And stood around their grandpa's knee, 
And heard his stories told in glee, 
Of days when he was young. 

To-day they come from far and near 
To celebrate his hundredth year : 
• And list again his voice to hear, 

And sigh a hundred years ago. 

Twenty days later, and all that remained of the vig- 
orous old man was borne through the broad gate, up 
to the green hill top, and laid beside the wife of his 
youth and his old age. And the bell in the M. E. 
Church rang its first death knell to the tune of a hun- 
dred years ago, and the pens of the future left to tell 
of his deeds in life, while the long train of mourners 
will long remember "Grandpa." 



LIVERPOOL. 152 

£ * We are very fond of comparison" as our dear 
friend Nep says, so we will give her description of 
Liverpool in the past and present. 

Our noble town was then a wild; 

With forests cover'd o'er, 
Where but few settlers' children played 

Around the cabin door. 



Few and scatter'd far apart, 
Was the settlers' little band ; 

For the red man still a footing kept 
Upon his native land. 

Where now your many meadows stand, 

Your lines of fence enclose, 
The curling smoke from wigwam hut 

And Indian camp arose. 

Where now your rustling cornfields rise, 
Where waves your golden grain, 

The nimble deer unchased by man 
Leaped o'er the grassy plain. 

Where now your stately fruit-trees are, 
Where now your gardens lie ; 

Was then a trackless wilderness * 
Where beasts were wont to hie. 
20 



154 LIVERPOOL. 

Your mansions then were not as now, 
Built up with brick and stone, 

But with those rude unvarnished logs 
They builded them alone. 

And now let us blush to own that we, as citizens of 
our flourishing and prosperous town, suffer Minerva, 
the woman who has endured so much, to lack the mis- 
erable pittance so necessary to her comfort, and much 
more, to lack those kind words and deeds so necessary 
to the happiness of old age. In our abundance we 
have forgotten that the midnight lamp, the tear dim- 
med eye, and the aching heart are the inmates of the 
little white cottage by the way-side, surrounded by its 
green trees, its neat flowers, and its little garden, hoed 
and wed by her own industry. There is not a field in 
sight o*f her but bears the marks of her labor in times 
past, while she . goes forth, day by day, and earns her 
bread. And should sickness come upon her, dare we 
hope that her forty years of privation and hardship 
would gain for her more than a home in our County - 
house. Alas ! for the inconsistency of perverted hu- 
man nature. 



OTTER STORY.— BY ASA MARSH. 

I was boiling salt at the salt works, and Mrs. Town- 
send came after me to go and shoot an otter, as she had 
discovered one in the water. So I went and shot it 
and brought it to the salt works, whereupon Town send 
came in a rage and took it away. I went after, him and 
brought it back. Then he came again and v with his 
ax cut it in two and took one-half away, carcass and all. 
I let him go and turned to the law for redress, got a 



LIVERPOOL. 155 

writ of Justus Warner, and proceeded to trial. Justus 
their hearing evidence, gave decision that each had their 
just share ; Townsend half for finding, and me half for 
shooting. So we each skinned our part and dressed it, 
and Hiram C. Stevens came and bought both our parts 
and sewed them together. So you have the otter story 
as it is, not as it is told by different story sellers. 



LIVERPOOL SALT WORKS. 



1. Now it came to pass that during the reign of 
James, sirnamed Madison, the people residing in the 
land of steady habits, being at peace with all nations, 
kindreds and tribes, grew and multiplied. 

2. They added field to field and farm to farm, and 
their cattle roamed on many hills and grazed in valleys. 

3. And tidings spread among the people that the 
wilderness of the Western Reserve could be made as 
was the Garden of Eden, for beauty and for riches. 

4. And not a few, prompted by love of gain, and 
being wedded to filthy lucre, journeyed into the wil- 
derness of Ohio, and returned to the land of steady 
habits, and said in the hearing of the people, that the 
Western Eeserve was a goodly land, and could be made 
to bring forth abundantly. 

5. So not a few provided themselves with oxen and 
wagons ; and when they had packed their clothing, 
cooking vessels, tools and other needful implements, 
set their faces westward, and started on a forty day's 
journey into the western wilderness. 

6. And not a few whose trade and business had 
been the peddling of " wooden clocks" and " wheel- 
heads," journeyed westward and settled along the valley 
of the river called Rocky, and built for themselves 
cabins in the valley. # 



156 LIVERPOOL, 

7. In those days the Aborigines, called Redmefl, 
were wont to hunt on the high grounds and along the 
valley of the river called Rocky. 

8. Now when tho'se who came from the land of 
ateady habits, saw that the land was well to look upon, 
and that it could be made a goodly heritage for after 
generations, they became anxious to become owners 
and inheritors of pieces of the Reserve. 

9. And by epistles* sent and received, tn^y learned 
the price at which the land could be bought, and a few 
came, and then, by epistle, asked others of the same 
Connecticut tribe, to come and inherit with them. 

10. Now a man called "Justus" had plowed with 
the owner of a part of the Reserve wilderness, and had 
by trade and agreement become the owner ; but not 
liking the sight of the Redman, the hugging of bears, 
the howling of wolves and the hissing of snakes, he 
had returned to the land of steady habits. 

11. And in those days a man called Seba, the son 
ofSeba had squatted on land, the ownership whereof 
pertained not unto him, only on the principle of 
"Squatter Sovereignty." 

12. And on the same land where Seba, the younger, 
had squatted, was a spring, from the waters whereof 
the Redman had been wont to make salt. But Seba 
knew not where the spring was, though he coveted in 
his heart to know. 

13. So the Redman spake unto Seba, saying f Pay 
me five large pieces of silver coin, and I will show unto 
thee the spring that is saltish. 

14. .Now Seba had not the pieces of coin that the 
Redman asked, and he was sorely puzzled and per- 
plexed ; and pondered within himself what he should 
do. 

15. And he we%t to the house of Jared, who was 



LIVERPOOL. 157 

his neighbor, and communed together with him, and 
they two covenanted to pay to the Redman the five 
pieces of silver coin, who then showed them the spring. 

16. And they dipped the tips of their fingers in the 
water, and tasted^thereof, and lo ! it was saltish ; and 
they two rejoiced together, as one rejoiceth for a first- 
born. 

17. Now Seba and Jared were ignorant of the land 
belonging to Justus, because they supposed the owner 
to live about two days' journey eastward from the 
spring, and they were sorely puzzled to know how they 
might get a title to the land ; and the thing vexed 
them. 

18. And Seba said, Let us go and take counsel of 
Nathan, of the country called Columbia, for he is a 
wise and cunning man, and versed in the law ; and the 
counsel of Seba pleased Jared. 

19. So they went together to the house of Nathan, 
and told him all that was in their hearts. 

20. And Nathan hearkened diligently to all that was 
spoken by Seba and Jared, and said unto them, I will 
see to it. And they left him musing as they went. 

21. And after they had departed, Nathan, having 
saltish gains in his mind, saddled his ass, and, by night, 
traveled north until he came to the town where Jona- 
than, the scribe, lived, who had done much land 
business for one Simon. And Nathan and Jonathan 
communed long together ; and Nathan besought Jon- 
athan to aid in securing to him some right* in the salt 
spring. 

22. Now Jonathan was as disposed to have an in- 
terest in saltish speculations as Nathan, Jared or Seba, 
and he felt strongly inclined to make self-interest the 
ruling motive in saltish matters. 

23. As soon a* Nathan h?d departed Joii^h*Ti 



158 LIVERPOOL. 

saddled his beast, got thereon and traveled eastward to - 
visit Simon and commune with him on speculations of 
the saltish kind. 

24. Now Simon- was inclined, from long practice, to 
catch hold of any speculation whereby pieces of silver 
might be made, and, after hearing Jonathan, he cove- 
nanted to meet him at the salt spring, near the river 
called Rocky. 

25. Now it happened that while these things were 
being done by Seba, Nathan and Jonathan in the valley 
of the river called Rocky, that Justus who, in those 
days, tarried in the land of steady habits, heard, by an 
epistle sent, that^a spring, saltish to the taste, had been 
found on the land he had covenanted to buy in the val- 
ley of the Rocky River, and to which he intended to 
return and posusess. 

26. So he put his house in order, saddled his beast 
and started westward on his journey to the Ohio wil- 
derness, musing on salt matters as he journeyed. 

27. And in due season he came to the place from 
which he had aforetime departed, and set himself to 
work to make salt, and conceived that thereby he would 
have much gain. 

28. And as he sat and mused ifl the door of his 
cabin, in the cool cf the evening, he looked out and 
beheld two men coming, and as they approached he 
knew them to be Jonathan and Simon. 

29. Now Jonathan and Simon were confounded 
when they learned that Justus was the actual owner of 
the spring, and saltish speculations died in them as 
they hearkned to the sayings and intentions of Justus. 

30. So Simon compromised with Justus and coven- 
anted to give him many acres of the Ohio wilderness 
for a share in the saltish springs, and they three made 



LIVERPOOL. 159 

* 31. Now they digged and dug and dug and digged 
until the well went down one hundred and three score 
and two feet from the surface of the ground^ and the 
opening was wide. 

32. Now Seba had, aforetime, planted corn and 
done much work near to the well, and had supposed 
that he should have some of the saltish spoils, but 
they gave him nothing, and he became angry and his 
wrath was kindled. 

33. And Seba called on the four winds to aid him 
in cursing the well and the salt made therefrom, and 
he wished that the salt might loose its savor, and it was 
so ; that it might loose its measure, and it was so ; and 
that it might loose its weight, and it was so. 

34. So after the anathema uttered by Seba, all who 
bought salt by weight, bought much bitters ; and all 
who bought by the measure, lacked in quantity ; and 
all who bought much, saved" but little ; and all the 
buyers murmured. 

35. And Seba often mused upon the saltish specu- 
lation after this manner : I scrabbled hard to get the 
pieces of silver ; I scrabbled hard to get the well for 
my own benefit ; I scrabbled hard to get others to aid 
me ; they have had a hard scrabble to get the well from 
each other; it has been a hard scrabble to make the 
salt, and a hard scrabble to save it when made. And 
all the people call the place Hardscrabble unto this 
day. 

36. In due course of time the «eal to own salt 
wells along the river called Rocky abated, the desire 
to buy salt lands failed, the using of salt from the well 
that Seba and the four winds anathematized ceased ; 
the men who had been engaged in saltish speculations 
abandoned the practice ; and all who bought it, united- 
ly called it a Hardscrabble. 



160 



LIVERPOOL. 
LIVERPOOL STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, 9 

Cattle, 

Sheep, - 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Merchandise, 

Manufactures, 

Moneys and Credits, 

Butter, pounds, 

Cheese, " 

Wheat, bushels, - 

Corn, " 



Yearly product as listed in 1681, 



Number. 

357 

1,393 

1,683 

506 

198 



28,150 

16,890 

6,780 

35,120 



Value. 

$10,637 

13,720 

2,409 

1,326 

3,684 

4,784 

3,680 

29,780 

6,780 

8,780 

2,860 

975 



$99,245 



If to the foregoing be added the yearly products of 
oats, potatoes, clover-seed, grass-seed, gardens and 
orchards, it is safe to say that the yearly wealth resul- 
ting from personal property and products, is not less 
than one hnnclred and fifty thousand dollars. 

A great change since the Warners, Demmings, Wil- 
mots and other first settlers made openings in Liverpool 
township. 



LITCHFIELD. 

It appears from early records that the portion of 
Medina county now called Litchfield was wholly owned 
by Judge Holmes, of Litchfield, Connecticut, who 
caused it to be surveyed into lots, and an opening, ©r 
improvement, of several acres, to be made on the south- 
west corner of the Center, planted an orchard and 
erected a cabin. Some time- thereafter, the land re- 
verted to the State of Connecticut, and, under the 
supervision of Mr. Beers, acting School Commissioner, 
it was thrown into market. During the time it was 
under the control of Judge Holmes, it was generally 
known by the name of Holmestown. When controlled, 
thereafter, by Mr. Beers, he called it, on his surveyed 
map, Litchfield, and by that name it was known at the 
date of its organization. 

For many years prior to its settlement by the whites, 
tradition says s<t was a part of the choice hunting 
grounds of the Wyandott Indians; and that their wig- 
wams were seen along Center Creek, in 1822. Prior 
to that year, the settlements at Liverpool on the north, 
and Harrisville on the south, had begun tp spread and 
drive out the wild game that had been the wealth and 
food of the Redman, and caused him to deseft his rude 
wigwam and seek after game elsewhere. Mr. Cyrus 
Cook, wife and child, were the first white p'ersons who 
came and made the first opening in the north part of 
the township, on the line of the north and south center 
road. He came in Februr.'ry, 1 S30 ^ £b May following. 
• 21 



162 LITCHFIELD. 

Jonathan Richards, wife and three children, (Charles, 
Abigal and Jujia,) Thomas Wilcox and wife, George 
Wilcox and wife, with two daughters, (Lucretia and 
Abigal,) Eliphalet Howd and wife, Asahel Howd and 
family, (Henry, Elizabeth, Caroline,) Judah Howd and 
George Olcott, came from Connecticut and settled iu 
the township. About the same time, Henry Howd, 
wife and three sons, (Albert, John and James,) came 
from Sheffield, Massachusetts, and settled. The Howds 
began their settlement on the west side of the center 
road, near the creek, and Richards located on the op- 
posite side of the road, about one mile north from the 
Center. George Olcott settled on the south-west corner 
of the present Center, and George Wilcox on west side 
of road, about one mile south from Center. In the fall 
of 1830, D. W. C. Dickeson, Jacob Road and Z. Staf- 
ford came into the township and became settlers. 

In May, 1831, Lewis Finiey and Asa Strait, with 
their families, became settlers, and were soon followed 
by J. L. Hinman, D. Pickett, O. Niekerson, W. Cole 
and their families. Mr. Hinman built the first frame 
house in the township. 

Miss Jane T. Strait, aged thirteen year's, was the first 
person who died in the township, on the 13th June, 
1831. A.t her funeral was the first public religious 
service ever observed by the settlers. On the following 
Sabbath, Asa Strait, by invitation, lecbured to the 
people, and may be said to have delivered the first 
sermon ever heard by the then residents of Litchfield 
township! If the names of all then present were called, 
how few would answer ! The moral and religious influ- 
ence that prevailed in New England was cherished with 
respect; and as the children, one after another, left the 
homes of their parents and became parents in the wilds 
of the Western Reserve, they came together and 



LITCHFIELD. 163 

worshipped as did their fathers. When the morn of 
the Sabbath came, they congregated, not at the sound 
of bell, but prompted by the impressions made in 
childhood ; and thankfully acknowledged the superin- 
tending care of Providence. 

On 30th June, 1831, the township of Litchfield was 
organized, by electing E. Howd, J. Vandventer, George 
Olcott, Trustees; Thomas Wilcox, Clerk; Asahel 
Howd, Treasurer ; and Jonathan Richards, Justice of 
the Peace. At that election, nine votes were cast. 

In the month of May, 1832, forty-*one persons came 
into the township in one day. Of that number, Messrs. 
Crow, Halladay, Wheeler, Peltons and tbeir families 
comprised a part. So great a number soon gave life 
and power to the sparse settlers, and encouraged 
perseverance. 

The fourth July, 1832, was celebrated by the settlers 
of Litchfield meeting, selecting a site, cutting and 
hauling logs, and building a log meeting-house. To 
give sanction to such work on that day, the good wives, 
at the appointed time, came with baskets of cooked 
provisions, and, with their husbands, ate thaukfully 
and joyfully, when they reflected on the prospects be- 
fore them. At the same place, and on the same day, 
they formed a Temperance and Moral Reform Society, 
which grew in influence and in numbers, and may 
really be considered one of the very necessary aids of 
moral reform. Nine names were obtained to the Tem- 
perance Pledge on that day ; and shortly thereafter, a 
Temperance Society was duly organized, which contin- 
ued to meet and act until 1844, when its members 
adopted the Washingtonian Pledge. It still exists ; 
and, in 1861, numbers two hundred and twelve mem- 
bers, most of whom are active, exemplary, temperance 
men and women. Who will criminate the citizens of 



164 LITCHFIELD. 

Litchfield township for the manner in which they cele- 
brated 4th July, 1832? 

In 1832 there was only one house at the Center, 
which was built and owned by George Olcott. The 
nearest house to the Center was that of Lewis Finley 
on the north, on the east that of D. Conyer, on the 
south that of W. Cole, on the west that of G. Pomnroy. 

Mr. Shaler was the first Congregational preacher. 

William Converse was the first physician. 

Mr. Moses was the first tanner and shoe-maker, and 
in due course of time he became the first saddle and 
harness maker ; and, still persevering, he became the 
builder and»owner of the first steam grist-mill. 

Asahel Howd was the first store keeper. 

The first female teacher was Almira Nickerson. 

The first Congregational Church was formed in 1833, 
composed of twenty-two members. The same Church 
in 1861 numbers eighty members. 

The first Baptist Church was established in August, 
1833, with thirteen members. Rev. Asa Strait was the 
first pastor in that Church. The number of members in- 
creased to thirty-two; harmony prevailed ; but in 1848, 
owing to causes that then prevailed, the church organi- 
zation ceased. 

The first Episcopal Methodist Class was formed in 
September, 1833, with ten members. It now numbers 
fifty-six members. 

The first Protestant Methodist Class was formed in 
1841, with six members. It now numbers, at least, 
forty members. 

The second Baptist Church was organized in Febru- 
ary, 1844, with sixteen members, and at present 
numbers about thirty members. 

There is a strange incident relative to the sexes born 
in this township since its organization. The number 



LiTOlHKLK 165 

of births is three hundred am] seventy two in fifteen 
years, two hundred and ten of % which are males and 
one hundred and sixty-two females. Should all tarry 
at home, and live to count three score and ten years, 
there is a strong probability that the year 1 900 may 
find a full hundred of shrivelled old bachelors travel- 
ling solitary and alone within the precincts of 
the township. 

There have been one hundred and four marriages 
within the township, up to 1845 Within fifteen years, 
one hundred and twenty-'our persons have deceased 
in the township since the first death, being a frac- 
tion more than eight each year. If the number of 
deaths that occur can be relied on as an index of health, 
or the reverse, certainly the township of Litchfield may 
compare, in salubrity, with any other section of the 
county. 

The oldest pioneer residing in the township is Char- 
les Richards, who came in 1830. The next three en- 
titled to that appellation are, Mrs. S. Strait, N. Strait, 
and J. V. Strait. To them there is a marked difference 
between what they saw in 1831, and what they see in 
1861. 

In 1832, when the Assessor travelled over the town- 
ship to take a list of the property subject to taxation, 
he returned— one horse and twenty-four cattle, as ap- 
pears on duplicate, valued at two hundred and thirty- 
two dollars. Compare that list with the number and 
value of horses and cattle in the annexed statistical 
table, and those of the first settlers ; who examine, will 
hardly believe that so great an increase could be made 
in thirty years — a striking^proof of what industry and 
economy can accomplish : 



1G6 



LITCHFIELD. 

LITCHFIELD STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Number. 



Horses, 
Cattle, 
Sheep, 
I fogs, 

Wheat, bushels, 
Corn, " 

Butter, pounds, 
Cheese, u 



Total of yearly value, 



478 

1,520 

5,895 

564 

6,000 

28,650 

55,900 

50,200 



Value. 



$21,940 
18,361 
11,276 
1,783 
6,000 
7,200 
5,600 
3,100 



$75,260 



If to the foregoing be added the amount that yearly 
accrues from Oats, Clover-seed, Grass Seeds, Potatoes, 
Barley, Flax, Orchards and Gardens, it would augment 
the sum at least fifty thousand dollars, making the 
yearly products of the township to be one hundred 
and twenty-five thousand two hundred and sixty. 

A striking evidence of what can be done where in- 
dustry and economy are (he aims of those who toil. 



LAFAYETTE. 

In 1830, the lands and chattels whin the present 
township of Lafayette, were owned Wy Apollos Cook, 
TL B. Cook, Lucy Day, S. and T. Fowler, Elijah Hub- 
bard, Lemuel Moffatt, Samuel Moffatt's heirs and Wm. 
N. Sill, comprising an area of sixteen thousand and 
fifty-one acres, on which they paid a tax of three hun- 
dred and thirty-one dollars. 

From 1818, to 1832, the lands now in the township 
of Lafayette were listed and taxed as belonging to 
Westfield, to which it was attached. In 1832, the 
township was organized, and at the first election ten 
votes were given. The first township officers were as 
follows ; Vivalda Wood, Alexaiflder Barrett and Anson 
Bellamy, Trustees; Ephraim Harris, Township Clerk ; 
Vivalda Wood, Treasurer ; and Vivalda Wood, Super- 
visor ; Abraham Brooks, Justice of the Peace. As 
office timber was rather scarce, the voters, in their 
sovereign capacity, imposed upon Vivalda Wood the 
duties of three offices. At the election, the propriety 
of electing a Constable was duly considered and vetoed. 
It was then thought that collections could be made by 
Abraham alone. 

As the number of votes, at the first election, require 
only a small space they are here given : William Bis- 
sett, David Ransom, Ezekiel Slater, Anson Bellamy, 
Henry F. Hall, Henrv C. Ransom, Vivalda Wood, 
Alexander Barrett, Epfuim Harris and Edward Starr, 
who may be considered as first settlers. 



» LAFAYETTE. 

On April 17, 1824, Rev. Joel Goo&ell, by invitation, 
preached in a school house near Isaiah Doanes and or- 
ganised the first. Congregational Church. The follow- 
ing are the names of the first founders of the church ; 
Abraham Brooks and Asenath Brooks, Ira Brooks and 
Fanny Brooks, Peter Brooks, Tabitha Brooks, Roswell 
Williams and Martha Lucas, Jerremiah Doty and Su- 
san Doty, Mattnw Leffingwell and Eveline Leffingwell, 
George Wallace^and Emelia Doty, Milo Loomis and 
Lucy A. Loomis and Rozetta Doane. 

In 1835. Pvev. Kellum, of the Mothodist Episcopal 
Church, preached in the township and organized a 
class. The number of persons, and names, who formed 
that class are unknown. 

• In the same year the Baptist Church was organized 
hut with what number is now unknown. 

In 1838, the Disciples Church was established and 
had a goodly number of members at commencement. 

In 1843, the United Brethren organized a church to 
which accessions, not% few, have been added. 

In the east part of the township the Presbyterians 
have a church erected and quite a number of members. 

If churches are an index of a prevalent moral and 
religious sentiment, there is no township of the same 
age in the county, that has exhibited greater benevo- 
lence in contributing to, and erecting churches than 
Lafayette. 

In wealth or natural facilities they will not claim 
greater advantages than other townships, yet in the 
erection of churches they have shown a liberality that 
every observer must commend. 

Before the township was ten years organized the 
citizens of the different christian denominations have, 
with the aid of other benevolent residents within and 
near to the township, erected the following church edi- 



LAFAYETTE. 169 

fiees at the probable cost given; Congregational Church, 
two thousand and two hundred dollars ; Episcopal 
Methodist, one thousand and three hundred dollars ; 
Baptist, one thousand and three hundred dollars ; Dis- 
ciples, one thousand and two hundred dollars; United 
Brethren, one thousand dollars ; Presbyterian, one 
thousand dollars. 

Each church has a membership "of not less than 
fifty-five, and the whole combined maybe acknowledged 
to sustain a reformatory influence over t the inhabitants 
of the township. 

It is worthy of record that actions at law have never 
been numerous or of long and angry continuance be- 
tween the inhabitants of the township, and when men 
from there are seen in court they are more frequently 
jurors than parties in actions. 

The township is rapidly filling with sober, industri- 
ous, economical farmers and mechanics who delight in 
making home their choice resort ; and the arrangement 
of the farms, the neat and properly arranged dwellings 
and barns, and the choice kind of fruit in their orchards 
give evidence of good taste, and industrious applications. 

In 1820, S. and J. Fowler owned four thousand and 
six hundred acres in the township, on which they, in 
that year, paid a tax of thirty-four dollars and forty- 
five cents. Those among whom that body of land has 
been subdivided and now owned, can form some estimate 
of the then value and contrast present advantages an d 
facilities with those that owners then enjoyed. 



170 



LAFAYETTE?, 

LIVERPOOL STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, 

Cattle, 

Sheep, - 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Moneys and Credits,* 

Butter, pounds, 

Cheese, " 

Wheat, bushels, - 

Corn, « ' - 



Yearly product as listed in 1681, 



Nu mber. 

551 

1,648 

9,199 

847 

121 

53,710 
35,780 
11,412 
34,760 



Value. 



$23,459 

17,640 

13,180 

2,520 

3,98) 

34,900 

5,370 

2,380 5 

11,412 

8,490 



|$123,251 



If to the foregoing be added the surplus that yearly 
accrues from the products of oats, clover-seed, grass- 
seed, potatoes, orchards and gardens, it is safe to say 
that the yearly products of the township amounts to 
one hundred and sixty three thousand dollars. 

Compare 1832, with 1861 7 and how marked the 
progress in value, in improvements and in productions. 



MEDINA. 

The principal proprietor of this township was Hon. 
Elijah Boardman, of New Milford, Connecticut, He 
was born March 7, 1760. In 1776, he enlisted as a 
common soldier, was taken very sick at New York, and 
was removed to Kingsbridge, 

Providentially was found by a neighbor of his father, 
who took him to a place of safety, gave notice of his 
situation, when his father immediately came to his 
relief. 

In 1795, Mr. Boardman became a member of the 
Connecticut land company, and a very considerable 
amount of land in the Western Reserve fell into his 
hands. 

Homer Boardman, Judson Canfield, Zepheniah 
Briggs and Boger Skinner were also proprietors of a 
few lots in Medina. 

Mr. Boardman had become a man of some promi- 
nence in Connecticut; was elected six times a member 
of the State Legislature. In 1819, was elected State 
Senator, and in 1821, Senator of the United States. 
He occupied his seat during the two sessions of the 
seventeenth Congress, and having been elected for six 
years, was a member at the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1823, at Boardman, Ohio. 

Medina was surveyed into lots, eighty-one in num- 
ber, in 1810. The first cabin was erected by a Mr. 
Hinman and brothers on lot Twenty-two. They chop- 
ped about three acres, remained a short time, and for 



172 MEDINA. 

fear of the Indians left and never returned; they were 
said to have been from Aurora. Zenas Hamilton was 
the first actual settler. He was born in Danbury, 
Connecticut, November 6, 1781, removed from there 
to Harpersfield, New York, remained there one year 
and a half, and as he had previously made a purchase 
of some land in Medina, he accordingly pursued his 
journey and arrived with his family October 3, 1814, 
and went into the lone cabin aforesaid, being hardly a 
shelter for them until he could roll up another near 
by, on lot Twenty-two, being a part of his purchase. 
Mr. Hamilton, with his family of seven or eight in 
number, were alone for a year and a half, before any 
other family arrived. They had to fare as best they 
could. Sometimes they would put corn into a small 
leathern bag and pound upon the head of an axe, and 
again shell out wheat and rye by hand and boil it and 
supply their wants until they could get from the mill 
twenty or more miles distant. Their trials and priva- 
tions must be experienced to be realized. Mr. Hamil- 
ton had the good fortune to kill a bear almost the first 
thing after his arrival. During the first few years he 
killed fifteen bears, besides a great number of deer 
and turkies. 

Ir^ consequence of his being so fortunate and efficient 
in hunting, they were pretty well supplied with meat. 
There pioneers were provided for ; the meat of the 
bear was much like pork, quite palatable to a woodman. 
The meat of the deer and turkies was somewhat drier 
than beef or the domestic fowl but we were thankful 
for it, and surely had no reason to complainr Mr. 
Hamilton, at one time, as he approached a large oak 
tree, discovered a large bear at the foot, eating acorns, 
and as he looked up he saw the old one with two cubs 
getting off the acorns. Knowing that those on the 



MEDINA. 173 

tree would come down as soon as he fired at the one on 
the ground, he prepared himself by taking some bul- 
lets in his mouth so that he could load his rifle quick, 
and immediately shot the larger one at the foot of the 
tree, then put some powder into his gun, spit a ball in 
and gave it a chunk on the ground, when it would 
prime itself, and in that way shot the others before 
they could get down, and thus had them all but one, 
in a heap, in a very short time. 

Mr. Hamilton had no cow until the next harvest time 
after his arrival, when he bought one in Columbia and 
brought her home to the great joy of the children. 



NARRATIVE OF JAMES MOORE, 

In my early life the old song " And well settled on 
the bank of the pleasant Ohio," had something to do 
in what afterwards became a settled purpose, and in 
company with a young man about to settle in "West 
Bloomfield, New York, started, January 1, 1816, from 
Boston, Massachusetts, on runners, snow about one and 
a half feet deep. In passing the Green Mountains, in 
Vermont, we tarried over night at Mr. Strong's, the 
agent for Strongsville, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and in 
part the agent to survey what was afterwards the town- 
ship of Strongsville. We pursued our journey, and 
arrived in West Bloomfield about the last of June, 
where my horse failed me. I took a seat in the mail 
stage to Buffalo, from thence to Cleveland by private 
conveyance. At this time no stage run on the lake 
shore road ; in fact, there was little or no road ; yet the 
wilderness was full of emigrants going west, who had 
been pent up by the three years war. We arrived in 
Cleveland the fore part of March, 1816, where I found 



174 MEDINA. 

Mr. Strong, the agent. At this time Cleveland coil* 
tained but six or seven frame buildings. Munson and 
Shephard were keepers of public houses. Carter in 
the red house on the river bottom, kept the ferry ; Dr. 
Long had an apothecary shop on main street. 

The day following, Mr. Strong and party, with my- 
self, I think all on foot, with such things as were abso- 
lutely necessary, started for Strongsville, where we 
arrived in season to build a good camp fire, and spent 
the night in a most primitive manner. The day after 
we spent, in rain and snow, in finding our way to Tim- 
othy Doan's in Columbia, where provisions were pro- 
cured. We returned and spent several days in running 
lines ; but finding that whenever I selected a lot it was 
reserved, I made the best excuse I could, and left for 
Mr. Doan's, and soon became acquainted with Captain 
Seymour, who volunteered to show me the Mill Site, 
where he and Mr. Doan would soon erect Mills in the 
Township of Medina. Accordingly the Captain, with 
tin cup, rifle., and most formidable butcher knife, led 
the way, and, as if by instinct, found his way some ten 
or eleven miles through a dense forest. After viewing 
the Mill Site, we descended the branch of Kocky River, 
as far as lot fifty-two, and after some examination, 
found our way to Zenas Hamilton, where we spent the 
night. In the morning the Beach Tree, conspicuous 
as the seat of justice of Medina county, was visited ; 
and if size gives importance, this tree was truly im- 
portant. It stood sume forty or fifty feet a little north 
of east in front of the old Court House. At this time 
about the- 20th of March, 1816, Zenas Hamilton was 
the only inhabitant in the township. While I was 
getting materials together on lot fifty-two for a cabin, 
James Palmer, Chamberlin and Marsh arrived and as- 
sisted me in putting up my cabin, being the third in 



MEDINA. 175 

the township ; this must have been in the fore part of 
April, 1816. I cut and cleared, without team, three 
acres where David Nettleton's house now stands, and 
planted it with corn, and left in care of Joab Marsh. 
The last of May, 1816, I started for Boston, and re- 
turned in October of the same year. During my ab- 
sence, several cabins were erected. In April, 1816, 
Mr. Hulet, in the west part of Brunswick, was, after 
Z. Hamilton, my nearest neighbor in that direction,, 
and Mr. Mott east on the old Smith road, each about 
seven miles from my cabin. Our nearest post-office 
was Cleveland. Pork was then thirty dollars per bar- 
rel, tea one dollar and fifty cents poi*pound, wheat 
one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, corn and pota- 
toes one dollar per bushel each, "tobacco and sole 
leather fifty cents per pound, eight-penny nails twenty- 
five cents per pound, &c. 

Chamberlin and Marsh remained in Medina but a 
short time, and moved to Sullivan. James Palmer put 
up his cabin on lot sixteen, and improved it, and made 
himself a good farm, with every needed convenience, 
and remained on it until his death, which occurred in 
February, 1850. He was a very upright, worthy citi- 
zen ; much esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. 
More's family arrived with Mr. Andrew Seaton and 
family from Boston in 1818. Mr. Seaton died in the 
summer of 1826. Mr. More remained on lot fifty-two 
until 1828 or 1829, when he went on to lot seventy- 
three, and erected a good house in company with 
Nathan Northrop, cleared up the farm, and added all 
needed buildings, with good fruit, all in good state of 
cultivation. In 1832 they sold out to Daniel North- 
rop. Mr. Moore, in company with Erastus Luce, 
purchased a farm in the north-west part of Medina, 
near Abbeyville, built a splendid mansion, made many 



17G MEDINA. 

important imprcvemis, and in a few years sold out 
again. Mr. Moore removed to Lake county, Illinois, 
where he still resides. He was a man of more than 
ordinary ability ; honest, prompt, and persevering in 
every engagement; in a word, a kind-hearted and very 
worthy citizen. 

On the 11th day of June, 1816, Rufus Ferris, Esq., 
arrived with hi3 family; and, having a number of hands 
in his employ, soon erected a shanty for their things, 
and did their working by the side of a fallen tree. Mrs. 
Ferris had to bake every day, rain or shine. He soon 
erected a log house, half a mile north of the Public 
Square in Medina. He was agent for Mr. Boardman, 
and his house was open and free for all who came to 
purchase land in the township. He, with his men, 
pushed forward the chopping and clearing as fast as 
they could, and soon had corn and wheat growing on 
the ground so recently an entire wilderness. They 
were formerly from New Milford, Connecticut. 

In the fall of 1816, a number of lots were selected 
by different individuals. In October, Noah M. Bron- 
son and Noah Warner, from Plymouth, Connecticut, 
made purchase of lots thirty-seven, fifty-four and fifty- 
five; and about the same^time, Noice B. and Dathan 
Northrop, from Cornwall, Connecticut, after spending 
a day and a night in the woods, and then changing 
their course, succeeded in finding their way to Ferris' 
cabin, thankful for a dish of potatoes and venison, 
after having fasted thirty odd hours. They selected 
lots thirty and fifty-six. Seth Roberts was with them. 

In November, 1816, Dathan Northrop came on and 
put up the logs and roof of a cabin for Joseph North- 
rop and family, who had stopped in Nelson, Portage 
county, and waited for sledding until the last of Jan- 
uary, 1817, when they removed to Medina and went in 



MEDINA. 177 

with Esq. Ferris. There they remained until they 
could mud up the cabin. In order to do this they had 
to heat water, and dig through the snow then eight 
inches deep. This being accomplished, they moved 
into it the 6th day of February, 1817, without door, 
floor, or chimney. The weather was very cold, but 
plenty of wood at hand, and they were quite comforta- 
ble, and thankful. In a few days, built a stick 
chimney, hewed puncheon boards for door and table. 
Pole bedsteads and stools or benches constituted the 
furniture for the time being. 

All the pioneers for the first year had to suffer more 
or less for the want of bread and potatoes, in conse- 
quence of the distance to where they could be obtained. 
N. B. Northrop went fifteen miles in the spring, paid 
ten dollars for twenty bushels of potatoes, and five 
dollars to get them hauled in. He had previously 
been twenty miles for the first load of wheat, paid one 
dollar and fifty cents per bushel, got it ground, and 
paid a like sum to get it home. Also paid three dol- 
lars for the first bushel of salt, thirty-four dollars and 
fifty cents for the first cow, twenty-six dollars for the 
first barrel of pork and three calf heads, and poor at 
that. F. A. Abbott and N. B. Northrop paid eleven 
dollars for a barrel of Liverpool salt, and it fell short 
one-tenth. All this don't begin to tell the story of 
many of the pioneers of these then new settlements. 
The multitude of comforts, nuts, fruits, &c, which are 
now usually abundant, we did not then expect or 
hope for. But by the blessing of a good,, kind Provi- 
dence we have many of us lived to realize more than 
our most sanguine expectations. 

It was on the 11th day of March, 1817, that the first 
public religious service was ever conducted in this then 
wilderness township. Sermon by Rev. Royce Searl, 



ITS MEDINA, 

Rector of St. Peter's Cliurch, Plymouth, Connecticut. 
Services the next day also ; sermon by Rev. William 
Hanford, Missionary from Connecticut. Both at the 
house of Zenas Hamilton. Some time after, Blr. Searl 
organized St. Paul's Parish, of Medina. The following 
names are on the original record, viz : Rufus Ferris, 
Miles Seymour, Benjamin Hull, Harvey Hickox, David 
"Warner, William Painter, George Warner, Mirah B. 
Welton, and Zenas Hamilton. All the above-named 
persons have since died or removed. 

In early spring of 1817, William Painter, David and 
George Warner, from Plymouth, Connecticut, Lathrop 
Seymour, Timothy Doan and Samuel Y. Potter, from 
Columbia, and Isaac Barnes, Mr. Calender and some 
others, now became actual settlers. 

In June, 1817, Esq. Ferris employed John North- 
rop and N. B. Northrop to hew the timber and frame 
the first barn built in Medina ; it being also the first 
barn frame that N. B. Northrop had ever superintended 
as master workman. The timber being green and heavy, 
help was at that time necessarily obtained, in part, from 
Liverpool and Brunswick ; and, not being able to com- 
plete the raising the first day, all had to lie over until 
morning. Ferris being fond of fun, prepared two large 
pails of milk-punch, sweet, but strong with whiskey ; 
and in a short time six or eight of those who drank 
most freely were on their backs feeling upwards for 
terra firma. The raising was finished in the morning. 
Rufus, the youngest son of Esq. Ferris, now living in 
Lafayette, (though then- a small boy,) says he well re- 
members that when the rafters and ridge-pole were up, 
Uncle John Hickox (as he was called) went up on the 
end rafter and walked the ridge-pole to the other end 
and down again to the plate. The barn is still stand- 
ing now in' 1861, being the same in which the first 
Court wa& held in and for Medina county. 



MEDINA, 179 

r rhe wife of Lathrop Seymour, ( now widow Brad- 
ford,) presents the following Pioneer History, viz : 
That on the 20th day of September, 1807, they started 
from Waterbury, Connecticut, for the Western Reserve, 
in company with four other families, with ox-team, 
through mud and mired, to Buffalo ; and that they took 
passage in a little dirty schooner ; that they went ashore 
•on Canada side and staid over Sunday at an old neigh- 
bors. They then went on board again, and in three 
weeks landed at Erie, Pennsylvan^ Mr. Seymour 
and wife concluded not to go on boara again, and Mr. 
Seymour started # for Euclid. Mrs. Seymour, with Mr. 
Bromon, wife and child, commenced their journey on 
foot, Mrs. Seymour having been sick the three weeks 
they were on the schooner, she could walk only six 
miles in a day. Mr. Seymour arrived in Euclid the 
14th of November, procured two horses and met them 
forty miles from Erie ; they then completed their 
journey to Euclid on horseback. They remained there 
through the winter, went to Cleveland in the spring ; 
stayed there three months ; from thence they moved to 
Columbia, with the ague, which held on about nine 
months ; during the time they lost their child. From 
thence they moved to Tallmage, where Mr. Seymour 
built a saw-mill. They again returned to Columbia, 
occupying their farm for a time ; then went to Huron, 
where Mr. Seymour built another saw-mill. Again 
they returned to Columbia. War having been declared, 
they were in constant fear. Mr. Seymour being in the 
service, Mrs. Seymour was alone most of the time with 
her children, with trouble without and fears within. 
After a while the soldiers were stationed at home ; and 
put up a block house,, to which, at any alarm, they re- 
paired for safety. Mrs. Seymour says that one night 
about twelve o'clock they had news that the British 



180 MEDINA. 

and Indians were landing at Huron ; that they all got 
up, packed up their things and started for Portage 
county ; that they had not got over ten miles when 
they camped out in the woods ; that news came to them 
in the night more favorable, and in the morning they 
returned home. This was in the spring. She says that 
in September, after Perry's Victory, there was great 
rejoicing on the frontiers ; they then commenced work- 
ing on their farms. In 1814 they removed to Liverpool 
and boarded the Jiands that worked in the salt works. 
They were therff^, year, and went again to Columbia, 
from whence Captain Seymour came to Medina, in 
March, 1816, with James Moore, to "view a mill-seat, 
which Doan and Seymour had previously purchased. 
They moved to Medina, April, 1817. They went into 
a little log shanty so small that when they camped 
down the floor was covered with their beds. The snakes 
were so thick that they were afraid of having a new 
bed-fellow before morning ; they would stick their 
heads up through the floor and crawl on to their door- 
steps to sun. 

Seymour and Doan erected a saw-mill in the fall of 
1817. Grist-mills were at Middlebury and Stow, a four 
days' journey with oxen. Mrs. Seymour says that 
they once went three weeks without bread, living upon 
potatoes, meat and milk. 

In 1818 Seymour and Doan built a grist-mill adjoin- 
ing the saw- mill in Weymouth. Mrs. Seymour is. now 
in her seventy-fifth year, and has been the mother of 
seven children, but two of whom are now living. She 
says it may be her life has been spared for greater 
trials, but God's will be done ; and she further says 
that whatever the Lord may see fit to place upon her 
she will try to bear patiently. Captain Lathrop Sey- 
mour died December. 19th } 1835. 



MEDINA, 181 

On the tenth day of April, 1817, the people assembled, 
with teams and tools, at the place appointed, near the 
present residence of Chauncey Blakslee, cleared away 
the under-brush, cut the timber, hauled it together and 
put up a log meeting-house ; cut the tree, made the 
shingles, covered it, etc. About noon notice came 
that Mr. Searl would be there and preach a sermon at 
four o'clock in the after-noon, that day, We did ou-r 
best to be ready. We prepared seats by placing poles 
between the logs and stakes drove in the ground, and 
had it all ready in due time. Mr. Searl came and ful- 
filled his appointment. Nearly all were present who 
could get there. The exercises were accompanied with 
appropriate singing, and all passed off in very pleasant 
pioneer style. 

The first school ever taught in Medina, was by Eliza 
Northrop, in the house above mentioned, in the sum* 
mer of 1817. The names of the pupils were Joseph, 
Ruth, Elizabeth and Mary Hamilton ; George, Lucius, 
Carlos and Lester Barnes ; Banner and Harrison Sey- 
mour ; Jared and Mary Doan ; Anna, Cynthia, Phile- 
mon, Chloe, Ruth and Madison Rice ; Clement and 
Freeman Marsh ; Frank and Philander Calender ; and 
Lois and Liusa Palmer : twenty-three. 

Ruth and Elizabeth Hamilton, (now Mrs. Graham 
and Nettleton) and Harrison Seymour, are all that now 
remain in town of those first scholars that attended 
the first school ever taught in this, then wilderness, 
township. 

The first person born was Matthew, sen of Zenas 
Hamilton, June 9, 1815. He studied medicine, went 
West and was doing a good business as a practical 
physician, and in crossing a river to see a patient 
was drowned. 



182 MEDINA. 

The first girl born was Eliza Sargent, August, 1818, 
now Mrs. Judge Humphreville, of Medina Village. 

The first death was that of $, young daughter of 
Asahel Parmaly, from Vermont, while stopping on 
their way to Sullivan. It occurred early in the spring 
of 1817. 

On May 8, 1817, Ransom Clark, with his brother 
John L. Clark, arrived and purchased a part of lot 
Forty-five, and slept under their wagon, with elm bark 
for floor and siding, until they could build a shanty of 
such poles as they could handle themselves, with bark 
floor and ceiling. There they kept bachelor's hall 
through the summer. Ransom worked at his trade 
(joiner) in Wooster, through the winter, and John L. 
taught school in Columbia. 

In June, 1718, F. A. Albert, with his family, arrived 
and soon after settled on lot Fifty-three, -north half, 
and Agustus Phillips on the south half of the same 
lot. His father and mother came in 1820; they were 
colored people, descendants of King Phillips of ancient 
renown. 

In June, 1817, James Warner and Gad Blakslee 
came from Plymouth, Connecticut, and located the 
central lot in Medina. In October following, E. A. 
Warner arrived and proceeded to put up a log house 
for his father's family, and to procure provisions and 
make such preparations as he could for their arrival, 
which occurred February 18, 1818. They went into 
their house in an unfinished state, as many others had 
to do in thflse days. Mr. Blakslee did not move in 
until some time after ; he died some years since. James 
Warner is in his eighty-sixth year and smart, enjoying 
comfortable health. . 

In April, 1818, Dr. Bela B. Clark, a brother of 
Ransom and John L. Clark, arrived and informed them 



Medina. isa 

that their father, John Clark, was coming, and they 
left their chopping and cut the logs for a shanty for 
the family, and had got it up and three-fourths of the 
roof on when their father's team appeared in sight. 
They soon finished the roof, and the family crossed 
the river on flood -wood (the river being so high they 
could not cross then with their teams) and carried their 
bedticks, (filling them with straw and leaves) and 
such other articles as they could, lodged in their cabins 
in real pioneer style, and like others of their neighbors 
before them, fared as best they could, They were 
forty days on their journey from Bridgewater Connecti- 
cut, arrived in June, 1818. The remaining Indians 
had had their camps along on Rocky river and vicinity, 
for a few of the first years ; they were friendly, but 
incessant beggars. If rightly informed they left after 
the following manner ; Mr. Hulett, of Brunswick, was 
at Nelson, Portage county, and saying something about 
the Indians being a nuisance, Captain* D. Mills, the 
old pioneer hunter, well known to the Indians, told Mr. 
Hulett, that if he would tell theui that Mills, Redding 
and some others that he named, was coming out there, 
and would make way with every Indian they could find 
he thought they would leave. Mr. Hulett did so, and 
sure enough, they packed their horses and left, and 
never returned. 



OEGANIZATION. 



By order of the commissioners of Portage county, 
dated March £4, 1818, the first election of township 
officers for Medina, was held the first Monday of April 
(6th day,)jfcl8. It was then organized by appointing 
Isaac Barnes, Noah M. Bronson and Abraham Scott, 



184 MEDINA. 

Judges; and Samuel Y. Potter Clerk of election. Af- 
ter being duly sworn, it was voted that Isaac Barnes 
be Township Clerk ; Joseph Northrop, Abraham Scott 
and Timothy Doan, Trustees; Rufus Ferris and Lo- 
throp Seymour, Overseers of the Poor; Abijah Marsh 
and Benj amine Hull, Fence Viewers ; James Palmer, 
Lister ; Rufus Ferris, James Moore, Zenas Hamilton 
and William Painter, Supervisors ; Samuel Y. Potter 
and Ransom Clark, Constables ; and James Moore, 
Treasurer. 

Ransom Clark is the only one living in Medina of all 
the first officers. James Moore is still living in Illi- 
nois ; the others are all dead. 

The first suit was nearly as follows: Joseph North- 
rop had bought a pig of a Mr. Woodward, of Bath. As 
the money was not sent quite as soon as Woodward 
expected, he sent his claim (two dollars) to Zenas 
Hamilton, Esq., the first Justice^of the Peace, with 
orders for him.to sue it. But Esq. Hamilton, rather 
than send a summons, went two miles through the 
woods, informed Mr. Northrop of the fact, and told 
him that if he would say that the money should be in 
hand three months from that time, he would do no 
more about it ; and the matter ended. Justices in those 
days were frequently much more ready to save their 
neighbors trouble and expense, than to pocket their 
fees themselves. 

The first couple married, were Giles Barnes and Eli- 
za Northrop, on the 22d day of March, 1818. Rev. 
Royce Searl (Episcopal Clergyman) solemnized the* 
marriage ceremony, after the Congregational form. 
Invitations were sent out for all the inhabitants of the 
township to attend the wedding. They "held on rather 
late, but, as the boys had procured a dead|L|ad of torch 
bark, all were amply supplied, and went totheir homes 



MEDINA. 1S5 

with torch in hand. Some were thought to be a little 
snapped with wine — (no, whiskey;) — but this was not 
considered very extraordinary, (even for some Clergy- 
men,) under such circumstances, in those days. 

The first Congregational Church was organized Feb- 
ruary 21st, 1S19, by Rev. William Hanford, Missionary 
from Connecticut, assisted by Rev. Simeon Woodruff. 
The Church was organized at the house of Isaac 
Barnes, and consisted of seven members, viz : Joseph 
Northrop, Charity Northrop, Isaac Barnes, Marther 
Barnes, Nira B. Northrop, Giles Barnes and John 
Barnes. All have died except Nira B. Northrop and 
Giles Barnes. Mr. Hanford, Missionary, occasionally 
preached in Medina, for four or five' years. Joseph 
Northrop was born in Brookfield, Connecticut, June 
13th, 1766 ; Charity, his wife, was born in Stratford, 
Connecticut, February 6th, 1769. They removed from 
Brookfield to Cornwall, Connecticut, February, 1796, 
and from thence to Medina, as before mentioned, when 
there were but two families in the township ; but seve- 
ral others arrived soon after. Joseph Northrop first 
settled on the bank of Rocky River, north side of the 
east and west road, lot thirty. After seven years, he 
moved on to lot fifty-six, where he remained until his 
death, which occurred July 21st, 1843, in the seventy- 
eighth year of his age. Charity, his wife, died 
December 26th, 1851, in the eighty-third year of her 
ag«. Isaac and Marther Barnes were from Camden, 
New York, and, after ten or twelve years, removed to 
Richland, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and have 
since both died. Nira B. Northrop was born in Brook- 
field, Connecticut, December 8th, 1791, and still lives, 
on lot fifty-six, the same he bought in 1816. Giles 
and John Barns were from West Hartford, Connecticut. 
Giles now lives in Weymouth. John went to Hudson, 
24 



186 MEDINA. 

first, from here, and thence to Richland, Michigan, and 
has recently died. Life is as a vapor; it appeareth- 
for a short season, and then vanisheth away. 

The Episcopal Methodists held meetings early, in 
the village of Medina, perhaps in 1819 or 1820; but 
the record is not to be found, as yet. The Baptist and 
Free Will Baptist Churches were organized some time 
after 1830 and 1840 ; the United Brethren in Christ 
also about 1859. The exact dates have not been ob- 
tained. 

One goeth and another cometh, improvements still 
progressing. In 181 8, Moore & Stevenson erected a 
saw-mill in Bagdad. James Warner soon purchased 
the mill and privilege, and with his son-in-law, Steven 
N. Sargent, erected a grist-mill in 1820, just below the 
saw-mill. 

Early in 1818, Noah M. Bronson moved his family 
and settled on the lot (thirty-seven) that he purchased 
in 1816. He had resided in Ashtabula for some time 
previous. He was, for a member of years, Associate 
Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, in Medina 
county, and lived on his farm to the advanced age of 
ninety- two years. 

In 1818, David Allen, John Briggs, Selden B. Wel- 
ton, Eden Hamilton, Esq., and their families arrived. 
Arza, Lindley, and Eden Hamilton, jr., Jacob R. Wel- 
ton and David Nettleton, were permanent settlers. Sev- 
eral others also came, and remained a few years, and 
have gone West. 

Religious meetings were conducted on the Sabbath, 
in the house erected April 10th, 1817, during the 
season ; one-half of the day by the Episcopalians, and 
the other by the Congregationalists. Soon after, a log 
house was built at the Center, where meetings were 
continued harmoniously until the house was burned. 



MEDINA. 187 

The. people built a town-house, where Episcopal service 
was conducted until that was also burned. The Con- 
gregational people built a meeting-house at Bagdad, 
and met there and at the village alternately, for a 
number of years. Rev. Lot B. Sullivan was the first 
minister of the Congregational Church, for one year, 
one-half of the time ; the other half in Wellington. 
Rev. Horace Smith was with Medina and Granger six 
months, as a Missionary, sent by the Hampshire Mis- 
sionary Society, Massachusetts. Rev. S. V. Barnes 
came in 1827, by the aid of Aristarchus Champion, 
Esq., of Rochester, New York. His labors were abun- 
dant, resulting in a general revival in the east part of 
the towrship, and afterwards in the village and vicin- 
ity. He was the stated minister in Medina and 
Weymouth for a number of years. Religious, moral 
and temperance reform were gaining the ascendency ; 
schools were improving ; and every important enter- 
prise was cherished, and urged onward to success. Thus 
we seemed to see the wilderness and solitary place 
literally budding and blossoming as the rose, and in- 
deed becoming vocal with the praises of the Most 
High God. 

The first sudden death occurred at the raising of a 
log barn for Giles Barnes, on lot seventy-one, August 
12th, 1819. Isaac J. Pond was instantly killed as he 
was taking up a rafter, standing on the north-east cor- 
ner. The butting pole rolled, and he, losing his 
balance, jumped on to the ground, and as he was 
endeavoring to rise upon his feet, the rafter struck him 
across the temple. I sprang to him, and no sooner 
than I reached him the blood poured forth from 
his nose and mouth, and he died without moving 
a finger. 



188 MEDINA. 

His wife, though fainting at the first intelligence, 
soon became composed, and in the exercise of Christian 
fortitude was enabled to bear the affliction as well as 
any woman under such circumstances. Their little son, 
Henry N. Pond, was just three months old that day. 
Mrs. Pond had the sympathy of every member of the 
community. The remains of the deceased were interred 
the next day, a little west of the then residence of F. 
A. Abbott, on lot fifty-three. 

I will mention here that not far from thirty years 
from that time, the same Henry N. Pond, who had for 
some time been the head of a family, while at work in 
his field was instantly killed by the fall of a dead tree. 
Both father and^son were much respected and worthy 
citizens ;. and in both cases the whole people deeply 
mourned their loss. The widows of both father and 
son are still living, and have each, several years since, 
buried a second husband. As the changing seasons 
roll on, so does the sunny and shady side of this 
mortal life appear. • 



ANECDOTES. 

In 1820, Harmon Munson, aged eighty-two, and 
wife, Johnson Warner and Joseph Pritchard and fam- 
ilies arrived and settled near the center. About the 
first court after Mr. Munson arrived, he thought he 
would attend. He being so much older than any body 
else, of course attracted considerable attention. As he 
seated himself in Esq. Hickox's tavern, Judge Todd 
approached him and enquired where he was from, etc. 
Mr. Munson, without knowing that the person was 
Judge Todd, told him that he thought he would come 
and see the Judge and lawyers and get acquainted, and 



MEDINA. 189 

remarked that lie supposed the Judge had not arrived 
yet. Yes, says the Judge he is here. Mr. Munson 
says, I understand he is a pretty smart man. Smart 
enough, says the Judge. But, says Munson, they say 
he drinks. The Judge's reply I have not learned. At 
any rate he wished the people to call him George Todd, 
except when he was in the Judge's seat. 
^ During the time of the Rectorship of Mr. Searle, in 
connection with St. Paul's Church in Medina, a some- 
what exciting difficulty occurred among some of the 
members, and at the same time the Episcopal Metho- 
dists at the village manifested considerable engagedness 
in their prayer meetings, and in reply to some remarks 
of Esq. Ferris, upon the subject, Seth Roberts said 

that the d 1 had really come to Medina, had got the 

Episcopalians all by the ears, and frightened the Meth- 
odists to their prayers ; and the 

Presbyterians look on and sing, 
Sweet is the work my God and King, 
At a certain time a lady had been repeatedly 
abused and her life threatened by her husband when 
intoxicated, and to that degree, that she went before a 
Justice of the Peace and swore the peace against him. 
He was offered bail for his future good behavior, but 
refused to take it ; accordingly the Court made a mit- 
imus ordering the constable to take him to jail; and on 
this, he requested the privilege of stopping at his house, 
which being granted, he took a bag and put in one end 
his gallon bottle of whiskey, and in the other the large 
family Bible, placed them across his saddle.; and thus 
took them with him to jail. In a few weeks he was 
bailed out, none the worse for having spent a short 
time there. 

About this time the wolves began to commit their 
depredations. Mr. Gad Blakeslee had procured a fine 



100 MEDINA. 

flock of sheep, and the wolves killed eighteen at one 
time. It was found that they inhabited the wind-fall, 
in the south part of the township. They got Zenas 
Hamilton to go and assist in building a dead-fall, in 
which, together with a large steel-trap, they caught 
nine old wolves, (and ten to carry) and one more old 
one the next year. There has been but one known to 
have been seen in these parts since. 

Burrit Blakeslee caught several otters about Rocky 
River during the first few years of the settlement. 



N. B. NORTIIKOr'S HUNTING STORY. 

In October-, 1821, as I was on my way home from 
Weymouth, passing a lot belonging to Friend Ives, 
(now Isaac Bronson's) near the road I saw a flock of 
wild turkeys of about fifty. As I was on horseback, they 
did not seem much alarmed. I called at the house, 
asked Mrs. Ives if Mr. Ives had got a gun and powder 
and shot. Being answered in the affirmative, I took the 
gun, an old queen's arm, very rusty. However, I loaded 
pretty heavy, put in a handful of coarse shot just right 
for the occasion, and as I went to the door I met Mr. 
Ives and H. Selkirk, I told them what I was about to 
do, which was to go down on the east side of the lot 
under cover of some bushes, behind which I should be 
undiscovered, and requested them to walk slowly up the 
road and moderately show themselves to the turkeys 
that they might come near me. But as I approached 
the lot behind the bush and fence, a large turkey says, 
quit, quit. I dropped down upon my knee, balancing 
my gun with my elbow upon my knee, and looking 
through the leaves I saw the large turkey about thirty 



AtEtHNA. 191 

feet from me and the rest moving along in range, when 
I pulled away at them, and laid six of them sprawling, 
and myself too, on my back, gun and hat beyond me. 
When I recovered from the shock and got over the 
fence, Messrs. Ives and Selkirk were picking up the 
turkeys. I gave each of them one and tied four to my 
saddle, and started for home, quite well satisfied, not- 
withstanding the hard thump from the oid gun. 

In May. 1818, a general hunt was organized, com- 
prising the north-west part or quarter of Brunswick, 
the north-east quarter of Liverpool, the south-easfc 
quarter of Columbia and the south-west quarter of 
Strongsville. The lines were all formed, the march 
had proceeded for some distance when a large buck 
came up and broke the line near where Jeremiah War- 
ner was passing on with the line. Esq. Hamilton says 
to him, why don't you shoot that buck? He then cocked 
his gun, but too late, he thought; and says that he must 
have been careless, for as he was uncocking his gun it 
went off and being on his arm, lengthwise of the line 
it was supposed that the ball struck a limb and glanced 
downward, struck William Pritchard, passing through 
his heart killing him instantly. This was done May 
16, 1821, he would have been sixteen years old the 29th 
of the next month. The hunt was broken up, and there 
has been no occasion for the like since. 



A BACK-WOODS CELEBEATION. 

The anniversary of American Independence was 
celebrated at Medina, July 4, 1821, not by the ring- 
ing of church bells and firing of cannon, but by the 
rustling of leaves, singing of birds and tinkling of 
cow-bells. John Freeze presided, assisted by Dr. B. B. 



192 MEDINA. 

Clark. The Declaration of Independence was read by 
A. G. Ilickox, and an appropriate oration delivered by 
Rev. R. Searle. A sumptuous repast was served by 
the good wives, of which all partook thankfully and 
harmoniously. After the feasting was over, the follow- 
ing toasts were read and loudly cheered. Sweetened 
whiskey, a very essential beverage, was imbibed freely 
at the cheering of every toast, and was repeated when a 
response was given. 

1. The 4th of July, 1821. — Forty-six years have 
passed away since the prize was won, and still the value 
of Independence increases. 

2. The President and Vice President and Head of 
Departments of the United States. 

3. The memory of George Washington. (Drank 
standing.) 

4. The Constitution of the United States. — Its 
characteristic features are liberty and equality. 

(Hail Columbia was sung by all.) 

5. Adams, Jefferson, Madison. — Amiable in private 
and public life. 

6. The State of Ohio. — Although a young sister of 
the Republic, yet her patriotic exertions in the last war 
will be remembered long. 

7. The Spirit of Freedom. Its seeds are sowing. — 
May they take deep root, spring up and bring forth a 
hundred fold and utterly root out the thistles of ty- 
ranny and oppression. 

Among the volunteer toasts then given and cheered, 
the following is selected : 

By Captain Herman Munson (aged eighty-three.) — 
Freedom to the Africans. 



MEDINA. 
MEDINA STATISTICS. 



193 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, - - 

Cattle, 

Sheep, 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Moneys and Credits, 

Wheat, bushels, 

Corn, " 

Butter, pounds, 

Cheese, " 



Total value of Township, 



Number. 


Value. 


443 


$20,779 


1,427 


18,139 


4,945 


9,519 


415 


1,379 


224 


5,499 




14,553 


2,186 


2,650 


27,120 


5,143 


26,557 


2,186 


87,394 


6,780 




$86,627 



MEDINA VILLAGE STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 


Number. 


Value. 


Horses, -,_-_.- 

Cattle, 

£ heep, - - - - - 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, - 
Merchants' Stock, - 
Manufacturers' Stock, - 
Moneys, ------ 

Book Accounts and Credits, - 


216 
266 
538 
128 
180 


$12,100 

4,185 

1,248 

381 

6,780 

36,266 

7,891 

9,792 

74,792 


Total Value for Village, - 




$153,436 


Total for Township and Village, 




$240,063 



25 



MONTVHLE. 

BT AUSTIN BADGER. 

I was born, reared and educated in the State of New 
York, and during the war of 1812, I participated in 
the duties of the camp and had a full test of the many 
privations that are consequent upon a soldier's life. I 
witnessed many of the scenes that have now become 
part of the history of that war and tested fully the 
toils and troubles of a life in the tented field. 

After the close of that war and the proclamation of 
peace, I came to the conclusion that my native State 
did not contain all the elbow room necessary for an 
ambition like my own, and came to the conclusion that 
in the western wilderness I might find an opening 
where I could, in future, enjoy a full share of life's 
comforts, without being circumscribed by a narrow 
bound. 

In the month of April, I left my native State and 
came into Medina county in May, 1818. There was a 
striking contrast between the country I left, and that 
into which I had just entered. The openings made by 
the axe-men, were comparatively few ; and the cabins 
built and occupied by the settlers were rudely construct- 
ed and far between. A view of the almost unbroken 
forest seemed to overcome resolution, and I sometimes 
feared lest my physical powers would give way before 
I could make an opening and*ereet a cabin. But when 
I saw what others had done, I resolved to purchase, 
open and rear me a home in Medina county. I built 
the first double log house on the same ground where 



M0NTV1LLE. 195 

Bronson's brick block now stands, and commenced 
keeping tavern in company with Hickox, who was a 
married man, I was then unmarried. The court was 
held in the upper story of our. house. I erected a sec- 
ond cabin house on the same lot where stands the 
dwelling of William H. Canfield. In the year 1819, I 
cleared off, upon contract, what is now called the Public 
Square. In 1819, the 4th of July came, as it had 
come in former years, and it was resolved by the citi- 
zens who lived near, that it should be observed with 
appropriate honors. In the morning a long pole was 
cut and stuck in a hollow beach stump, where the old 
Court House now stands, and on its top streamed glo- 
riously, and unrivalled in the air a bandanna handker- 
chief, being the best fac simile of the nation's flag, 
that could then be found and used. 

Those who participated in that memorable celebration 
were A. Badger, R. Ferris, B. B. Clark. L. Seymour, 
T. Doan, S. Potter, It. Clark, Caleb Chase, Erastus 
Luce, Thomas Currier and perhaps some others. We 
drove forks in the ground, prongs upward; then laid 
on pole-stringers, then put on cross-ties and covered 
the whole top with peeled bark, on which we set our 
provisions and standing up around our hastily-rigged, 
and sumptuously piled table, discussed of past events, 
and the future prospects of our nation, our State and 
our county. Good whiskey being one of the neces- 
sary articles on such a day, was bountifully furnished 
and plentifully drank as a beverage. Sentimental toasts 
were drank and always responded to by three hearty 
yells, and as many drinks of liquor. Whiskey sweet- 
ened with home-made sugar constituted the drink that 
was handed around, in the fashionable circle, in those 
days. In the evening we returno I to our cabins highly 
gratified with the glorious celebration of the nation's 



196 MONTVILLE. 

birth-day. We, on that day, gave names to all the 
streets, or main roads that then centered in the village, 
by which names they are still called. 

In April, 1819, I settled in Montville township. 
Samuel Brown was then there, and is entitled to the 
appellation of first settler in Montville. Shortly after 
my commencement there, Parker Pelton, A. Smith and 
Thomas Currier, with their families, became residents. 
In 1820, great arrangements were made to celebrate 
the 4th of July in good style, and we all concluded to 
go. Every one who wished to participate, was notified 
to bring provisions with him. All the inhabitants of 
Montville attended that celebration, and let it be re- 
corded as a part of history that on the 4th of July, 
1820, no human being could be found in Montville 
township, for the reason that patriotism fired every 
inhabitant to be at the celebration. Three ox teams 
hauled to Medina, on that day every living soul in 
Montville township, together with a young fat hog, a 
fat sheep and a few chickens intended to be eaten in 
common at the great celebration. From every inhab- 
ited township in the county, the people came with their 
ox teams, and by noon there was a large gathering and 
a cordial greeting. The dinner was of the best that 
the country then afforded, and all fared plentifully. 
Sweetened liquor was made in a tub which was re-filled 
often during the day. From that tub every person 
dipped in a tin and drank, when inclination prompted. 
Many of the more sturdy men took the whiskey raw, 
saying that the sugar took away its flavor. That was 
considered a glorious day at the County Seat. 

Montville township was organized in 1820. The first 
township Trustees were T. M. Currier, Aaron Smith 
and Austin Badger. G. F. Atherton, township Clerk. 
No Constable was elected, as the whole body of voters 



MONTVILLE. L91 

supposed there would not be any constable business to 
do. Philo Wei ton was elected Justice of the Peace ; 
having received every vote but one. Ten votes were 
polled at the first election. At this period in the set- 
tlement of the township the following may be reckoned 
as first settlers : G-. F. Atherton, Austin Badger, Sam- 
uel Brown, Thomas M. Currier, Aaron Smith, Seth 
Hoit. Parker Pelton, Amassa Smith, Joseph Pimlot 
and Philo Welton. At this stage of the onward pro- 
gress to future wealth, there were two horses in the 
township, owned by A. Badger and Parker Pelton. In 
1822 there were three horses and forty-one cattle in the 
township, as appears from the assessment made by Mr. 
Welton, to the County Auditor. 

In 1824 Austin Badger was elected second Justice 
of the Peace. The votes then cast numbered fifteen, 
and was considered as strong evidence that the town- 
ship was growing in population very rapidly. 

The first marriage in the township was W. R. Will- 
iams to Nancy Monroe. Henry Pelton was the first 
child born in 4he township The first death and burial 
in the township was Mrs. Catharine Badger. The first 
teacher was Caroline Babbitt, who trained the youthful 
minds of eight scholars, in the first school-house, 
erected on the corner of the farm of A. Badger. Parker 
Pelton raised the first three acres of wheat ever cut in 
the township, and Austin Badger threshed it out with 
a flail for the seventh bushel, and thought it a yood 
change, to pay for wheat on that condition. The first 
blacksmith was Parker Pelton, who acted in that sta- 
tion when necessary, and was of essential service to 
the community. 

Rev. Alva Sanford organized a Parish, of the Epis- 
copal order, in 1829, comprising nine members, which 
continued its existence up to the organization of the 



193 



MONTVtLLE. 



Episcopal Church in Medina, of which it became a part. 
In 1830 the Methodists constituted a Class and erected 
a Church, which is still in existence. 

The first frame house was erected by Mr. Welton, 
and the first frame barn by George F. Atherton. The 
lumber then used was sawed at Bagdad, and hauled 
through the woods, the teamster making his own road 
as he travelled. In those days Mr. Badger did not 
consider it an extraordinary effort to cut, score and 
haul the timber necessary for a barn or a house. The 
township now (1861) has six school-houses, two steam 
saw-mills, comfortable dwellings, commodious barns, 
well arranged farms, a full share of industrial improve- 
ments* and is rapidly increasing in population and 
wealth. 

MONTVILLE STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, - 

Cattle, 

Sheep, - 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Moneys and Credits, 

Butter, - 

Cheese, 

Wheat, - 

Corn, 



Number. 


Value. 


413 


$20,667 


1,458 


15,545 


6,639 


14,481 


662 


2,196 


197 


5,193 




"18,876 


49,385 


4,939 


63,575 


2,150 


• 8,600 


8,600 


68,500 


14,650 



Total value, $107,234 

If to the foregoing be added the yearly wealth that 
accrues from the products of oats, clover-seed, grass- 
seed, potatoes, orchards and gardens, the annual value 
of the personal property and products are worth one 
hundred and forty-five thousand dollars. 

Contrast 1820 with 1861, and the increase must bear 
full evidence that the agricultural march of Montville 
has been onward for forty -one years. 



SHAEON. 

Barnabas Crane was born in Barkley, Bristol county, 
Massachusetts, April 22d, 1775. His father, Bernice 
Crane, was a soldier in Canada, during the French 
war, where he endured great hardships and privations 
in that northern climate. He was, not once, but often, 
forced to sleep, (if sleep it might be termed,) on the 
freezing earth, with nothing but a soldier's clothing to 
protect him from the drifting snows and chilling winds. 
On one occasion the back part of his head was so 
severely frozen as to leave a mark that he carried du- 
ring life. He lived to the age of four score and five 
years, and his companion, Jemimah Crane, died at the 
age of one hundred years, one month and fifteen days ; 
each a pattern of good deeds while living. 

The subject of this memoir was one of six, (one of 
whom, William Crane, now eighty years, is still resid- 
ing in Sharon,) whose average ages were eighty years. 

Owing* to debility in youth, he was partially unfitted 
for manual labor ; and, having agood opportunity of 
becoming a scholar, under the educational and moral 
training of Rev. Thomas Andros, of the Congregational 
Church, he applied himself closely to study, and be- 
came, not only thorough in English, but also in Latin. 
At the age of sixteen he became a teacher by profession, 
and practiced that calling for many years. Although 
chained by profession to terra firma, still his inclination 
led him to seek for a life on the ocean, and in due 
course of time he went aboard of a vessel destined for 
the Indies, by way of Cape Horn. The vessel sprung 



SHARON. 

a leak when on the eastern coast of South America, and 
was there abandoned by the crew. He returned home, 
and, watching for another sea-faring voyage, his wishes 
were again gratified, by going on board of a vessel as 
a common hand. By degrees he rose from the station 
of a common hand to that of commander, and next, to 
being part owner of the vessel. For many years he 
sailed, to the West Indies and other ports, where com- 
merce seemed to invite ; yet he never crossed the 
Atlantic. Upon his return from sea, after having been 
absent some months, he learned that his kind compan- 
ion had died on the 7th of April, 1825, leaving a 
family of nine children, the eldest onlv nineteen years 
old. All desire to leave his young family ceased, and 
duty and* affection prompted him to extend to them 
that aid which none but a parent can bestow. There- 
fore he remained a widower, and in company with his 
young family spent many years of pleasure. 

In May, 1833, he removed to Sharon township, while 
it was still a wilderness, and settled down. Having 
long since lost all anxiety to travel, in search of some 
easy way to gain a livelihood, he willingly and profita- 
bly devoted his time and energies in opening up and 
improving a farm, and, by careful and proper culture, 
gaining a full share of the comforts of life. Having, 
in former years, tasted the advantages resulting from a 
thorough, practical education, he strenuously urged 
the formation and elevation of common schools, and 
schools of a higher order ; fully convinced that they 
were the nurseries of Republican institutions, intelli- 
gence, morality and religion. 

Contrary to the faith in which he had been reared, 
and the earnest remonstrances of many friends, he was 
a strong advocate of Jefferson's political views, and a 
irra supporter of his administration. Often would he 



SHARON. 201 

repeal the saying of Jeffferson — "thai one class of men 
are not born vvitli saddles on their backs, and another 
rtass booted and spurred, by (lie grace of God, to 
ride them." 

Jackson \s policy and administration were fully en- 
dorsed by him. He was often heard to say that "the 
iron will and determination of purpose that Jackson 
exhibited, wore traits of character calculated to chal- 
lenge the highest admiration. ,: 

In middle life he had joined the Congregational 
Church, and had been a consistent member until 1840, 
when, becoming convinced of the fullness of the grace 
of God, as revealed in the bible, he united with the 
first Universalist Society in Sharon, continuing his 
membership with that body until his decease. 

Although a sea faring man, and commander for many 
years, his most intimate friends never heard him use 
profane or obscene language ; or, when relating an 
anecdote, in which he often practiced, no words were 
used that could offend the moral or the religious taste. 
Moving in the society and in the times that he did, the 
use of spirituous liquor was generally practiced ; yet 
he was at all times, and under all circumstances so 
fully master of his appetite that alcohol, not himself, 
was the servant. When among the young he always 
advocated total abstinence, and urged them to practioe 
it ; yet he was frank to acknowledge that, owing to his 
training for many years, the jacket was rather straight 
for him to always wear. Outliving most of his children, 
he died at the residence of his son, on the third day of 
May, 1860. In death, as in life, he was calm, hopeful. 
patient, and resigned. 



Zb 



!02 sn VllON. 

N'ABRATIVE BY G. A. B.OOT. 

For a number of years previous to its settlement, the 
township of Sharon, or "Hart & -Mather's," as it was 
then called, was noted as a common hunting-ground 
for the settlers of* surrounding townships. As there 
were no settlements in this township for a considerable 
time after those in townships adjoining, all kinds of 
wild game were here found in abundance, and furnished 
an inducement for the visits of numerous hunting 
parties. 

This state of things continued uninterrupted until 
the arrival, in 1816, of Mr. David Point, who settled 
on the farm now owned by Jacob Rudesill, in the 
north-east corner of the township. The township at 
that time was called, after its proprietors. Hart & Math- 
ers, a firm, the members of which lived in Saybrook, 
Connecticut. Mr. Point is a native of Orange county, 
New York, and was born in 1786. In 1814 his father 
moved to Bath, in Summit county, where Mr. Point 
married a daughter of John Dunbar, and removed to 
Sharon, as above stated. He yet resides near tr e 
scene of his early labors in the settlement of the town- 
ship, having reared to manhood and womanhood a 
family of nine children, besides losing five others. 
During the first year of his stay in the township, Mr. 
Point, besides building his house, cleared six acres of 
land, and sowed the "girdlings" with grain. 

The first marriage that took place in the township, 
was that of Joseph Willey to Melinda McFarlin, in 
1829. They afterward moved to Porter county, Indi- 
ana, where Willey died, in 1856. 

The first white male child born in Sharon was 
Stephen Green, in 1819. He now lives in Bath. The 
first white female child was a daughter to Mr. and Mr?. 



SIIAKON. 203 

Point, .June 16th, IS] 8. She is now married to George 
Vaughn, and resides in Allen county, Indiana. 

The first death that occurred among the whites in <he 
township was in the family of Point. An infant child, 
five months old, was attacked by the whooping cough, 
and died at the end of four weeks. This occurred in 
1822, before the township could boast of a physician- 
There was one in Wadsworth, however, and for him 
Mr. Point went, but for some reason the Doctor was so 
engaged otherwise that he could not attend. As there 
were no grave-yards located, at that time, in Sharon, 
the body was taken to Granger for interment. No fu- 
neral sermon was preached on this occasion ; a few 
neighbors gathered — for there were but few — at the 
house, where a prayer was offered and hymn sung, be- 
fore starting for the grave. 

The educational interests of the township were early 
attended to. A school meeting was called and held at 
the house of Mr. Point. Those who attended were 
David Poinx, Abram Yalland, Lyman Green and 
Charles McFarlin. It was then agreed to build a 
school-house on the site cow occupied by '-Link's Tav- 
ern." There was an objection to this, however, which 
was, that several years before, an Indian squaw had 
been buried on the identical spot, where the school- 
house would stand, and ' ; spooks ,? were as plenty 
those days as at present. But this objecfc : on did not 
prevail, and the school-house was built. According to 
tradition, this house w 7 as somewhat better than those 
commonly built in those times, it having an upper 
floor, (made of split logs.) and much care being devo- 
ted in its construction to make it comfortable ; and on 
the whole it would compare favorably with many of 
more modern construction. All things being now 
ready, the first school in the township of Sharon com- 



204 SHAiio.V 

nienced under the charge el Mr. David Holme*. TLc 
following list of scholars answered to the calling of the 
roll during that term of school, commencing in the full 
of the year 1822: William, Polly, Rhoda and SaHy 
Valland ; John, Orville. Esther, Moses, Reuben, Mari- 
na, Almina and Wilson McFarlin ; Jane, Betsey and 
Marilla Point ; Lyman, Orpha, Dexter and Asenath 
Green. Myron, Chester and Tracy Hills. 

Of the students above named all but three are now 
living. Mr. Holmes was married, while living in Sharon, 
to Miss Codding ; and, in 1840, moved to Michigan, 
where he died. 

The Methodist Church in Sharon was organized in 
April, 1832. There were twelve members present at tho 
time. James Wilson was appointed Pastor in Gharge. 
The names of members were, Valentine Waltman, class 
leader ; Achsah Waltman and daughter, Charles Mc- 
Farlin, Irena McFarlin, Almira McFarlin, George 
Lowering, Susan Lowerman, Polly Lowempn, Rabec- 
ca Smith, Harriet Skinner and Martha Moore. During 
the following summer their number was increased to 
thirty members ; and their ministry by Rev. Lorenzo 
Livens, who was placed upon the circuit. In 1842 
this denomination became strong enough to build a 
house of worship at the Center of the township. 

From 1822, to 1821), nothing of much importance 
transpired except the arrival of new settlers, from time 
to time, and among whom, in .1828, came Mr. Peter A. 
Moore, who has been, since that time, and up to the 
time of his death, which took place at Omaha City, 
New York, in November, 1850, one of Sharon's most 
influential citizens. In 1829, the township was survey- 
ed by Mr. Moore and George W. White, of Trumbull 
county, and the name changed from " Hart and Math- 
ers,"' to that of Gash. 'Phis was done at the suggestion 



SltAftON. 203 

of Mr. Moore, in honor of his native State in Scotland 
This name, however, was retained by the township for 
only three motnhs, when it was again altered for the 
one it now bears. 

The organization of the township took place in 
April, 1831. About seventy-five votes were cast, the 
result of which was the election of Peter A. Moore, 
Samuel Hayden and Charles McFarlin. Trustees ; Jacob 
Rudesill, Clerk ; Colonel Luther Fitch, Treasurer ; 
Jonathan Smith, Justice of the Teace ; Mark Smith, 
Constable. Of these, but one (Mr. Rudesill) is now 
living in the township. 

Sunday, June 3, 1833, an event occurred which 
caused much excitement in Sharon, and at the same 
time, set the terrible consequence of intemperance in 
plain view of its inhabitants. 

John Bleaks, a resident of the township, was in the 
habit of getting drunk occasionally. It was customary 
tor him to goto Granger-burgh for liquor. One eve- 
ning he was seen returning from there, far along in the 
stages of intoxication. Four days having passed 
without his returning home, and his family growing 
concerned as to his whereabouts, search was instituted 
by the neighbors. For several days the woods were 
rambled through in vain, till, on Sunday, ten days 
after he was last seen alive, his body was discovered, 
with his jug of liquor beside it. From the position 
of the body it was thought that he was stooping over 
to drink from a little creek, when he lost his balance 
and fell, his face in the water, from which position, 
through drunkenness, he was unable to extricate him- 
self. A coroner's jury was summoned and verdict re- 
turned as above. The body was buried on the land 
now owned by Erastus Bissell. Before the grave was 
filled up, Cyrus Taylor threw the jug of liquor in, 
which was buried with the body. 



20G SHARON. 

While the jury were convened over the buuy of 
Bleats, an accident occurred which came near proviiag 
fatal. A large tree, near by, was blown down, the to}' 
of which struck the head of William High and frac- 
tured his skull in a serious manner. Tie recovered, 
however, eventually. He was seven years old at the 
time of the accident. 

It was during the year 1833, that "Win. Woodward, 
John Woodward, Joseph Daykin, Joseph Brunskcll, 
.John Bell, James Pratt and others, together with their 
families, came from England and settled in what is 
now known as the English Settlement, two miles north- 
east of the center of the township. Most of them yet 
reside in Sharon and are among the wealthiest and 
most substantial of its citizens. Their farms arc mod- 
els of neatness and order, and are stocked with the 
best of cattle, horses, etc. 

The first store-room was erected and replenished 
with the necessary store goods in the autumn of 1834, 
by Dr. John Burge. 

Luther Fitch was the first post master, whose ap- 
pointment bears date in 1833, when the post office was 
established. 

The first tavern was opened and kept at the center 
in 1835, by Milo and Horace Gibbs. 

The firSt physician was. Dr. Andrew Armstrong, who 
after a stay of two years moved, and the place was filled 
by Dr. Beach. 

In 1835, a charter was granted by the Legislature, 
to erect the Sharon Academy, which was consummated. 
Mr. John McGregor was the first teacher, under whose 
supervision the institution made commendable progress, 
and from then to the present, the Sharon Academy 
has continued to be a good educational nursery. 



SI] \j'.oN. 
HI \ RON ST V.T1S I l< - 



PERSONAL PROPERTY 



Horses, - 

Cattle. 

Mules, - 

Sheep, 

Hogs, - 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Merchandise, - 

Moneys and Credits, 

latter, - 

Cheese, 

AY heat, - 

Corn, 

Total value, 



S amber. 


\ alne. 


517 


$29,451 


1.875 


21,470 


16 


1,160 


8.141 


14,621 


72G 


2,651 


248 


7.649 




3.500 




13,750 


1 03,117 


6,325 


! 12,160 


740 


■ : 18,570 


18,500 


| 37,260 


9,315 


i 


$129,332 



If to the foregoing be added the amount that yearly 
accrues from the products of oats, potatoes, clover- seed, 
grass-seeds, orchards and gardens, it may safely be "as 
serted that the annual wealth of Sharon township can- 
not be less than 8158,000; a strong evidence that per- 
severance and economy have been strictly observed by 
those who toiled in the field and in the work-shop. 



SPENCEE. 

The original proprietor of the township was Samuel 
Parkrnan, of Vermont, who resided in the county of 
Geauga, Ohio, about thirty-four years since, 

The first settler in the township was John P. Marsh, 
in the spring of 1823. 

The first couple married in the township were Sam- 
uel Falconer to Margaret Bissett, by B. Irvin, Justice 
of the Peace, in 1830. 

The first person born in the township was Samuel 
Marsh, March 25, 1826. 

*The first person who died in the town ship* was 
Stephen Harrington, in 1826. 

William Bishop kept the first school in a log cabin 
on the farm of John P. Marsh. Elizabeth Bissett, 
Phincas Davis, Phillip Bezard and John Space, com- 
posed his school. Seven of those scholars are, in 1861, 
residents in the township. 

Rev. H. 0. Sheldon started the first Methodist Class, 
in 1827, with Ruth Bezard, Z. Harrington, Elizabeth 
Space, John Space and Phiebe Goodwin, members. 

The township was organized in 1832, when twenty- 
one votes were ca^t. Abel Wood, Phillip Bezard and 
John Park, were elected trustees; Henry Wood, Clerk; 
and Ira Cole, Treasurer. Samuel Sooy was the first 
Justice after the organization. 

The township of Spencer formerly constituted a part 
of Lorain county, to which it remained attached until 
1839. The first record that is found on the Duplicate 
of Medina county is in 1840. 



SHA&ON. 209 

The advance made in clearing off the forest and in 
the erection of neat dwellings indicate, that at least 
some parts of its territory must have been tamed from 
its original wildness prior to 1820. The first rudely 
constructed cabins are rapidly disappearing. The 
stumps of the sturdy trees of the forest are rotted, the 
advances made in agricultural improvements, and the 
herds that graze upon the tamed pasturage, tell that 
Spencer township must have existed more than thirty 
years. 

Forty years since, it must have composed a part of 
a large plat of wilderness where the hunter delighted 
to roam, and where the wild game sheltered themselves. 
There are doubtless many incidents and many priva- 
tions that the first settlers knew and endured that must 
remain unwritten, because the actors have, years since, 
ceased to live, and no man of historical inclination has 
penned them. 

In respect to fertility, timber, water and other nat- 
ural advantages, Spencer can appear favorably with 
other townships in the county. The zigzag course of 
the river, sluggishly flowing through a wide but fertile 
portion of the township, and, in season of heavy rains, 
inundating a large area of low land, may, to the hasty 
observer, create unfavorable impressions as to the prob- 
ability of its ever becoming valuable; but in the course 
of twenty years hence, when internal improvements 
become the watch-word of the people, the channel of 
that same river may be straightened and widened, and 
the objection to its overflowing the lands cease to exist. 
It is not vain to prophecy such a result, and when that 
improvement is made, the price per acre of land will 
rise rapidly. 

The township is 'dotted, at proper localities, with 
school house, sthat indicate the wish of the owners of 



210 



SHARON. 



the lands that the rising generations should be properly 
trained and educated. 

Church edifices are erected that speak well for the 
taste, and generosity of the citizens. Mechanics of 
different orders have opened shops, and make and 
manufacture articles in demand. "Spencer Mills" had, 
and continue to have commendable notoriety. The 
farmers have given evidence of their design to become 
skilled in their avocation, by the arrangements they 
make as to their fields, grains, grasses, implements of 
husbandry, and every other article that is calculated 
to give fertility to soil, or add to productiveness.' 

There was a year in past history when the township 
could only count a few settlers, few cattle, few facilities, 
and few necessaries. That year of trial is now gone, 
and its scenes only remembered by a few. The present 
generation are enjoying a prosperity that was gathered 
at the expense of much toil and many obstacles. A 
generous, hard laboring grand-parent hands over, with- 
out a murmur, what he gained, to his grand-children, 
with the wish that thej will use it frugally and with 
gratitude. 

SPENCER STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROP ERTY 

Horses, - 
Cattle, - 

Sheep, _•-.__ 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 
Moneys and Credits, 
Butter, pounds, - 
Cheese, " ... 

Wheat, bushels, - 
Corn, " - 

Total value of Township, 



544 
2,093 
1,746 
1,133 

173 

78,819 

198,112 

12,911 

48,412 



Value. 



$24,544 

22,729 

3,361 

3,181 

5,886 

27,990 

7,890 

11,800 

12,911 

12,103 



$136,395 



SHARON. 211 

If to the foregoing be added the wealth that accrues 
from the products of oats, potatoes, grass, clover-seed, 
grass-seed, orchards and gardens, the yearly products 
of Spencer township may, with safety, be reported at 
one hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars. 

How striking the contrast between the valuation 
given in 1832 and that given in 1861 1 Let the same 
perseverance and economy be practiced for a second 
twenty -nine years, as was in the past, and the annual 
productions of the township will count three hundred 
thousand dollars. 



WADSWOETH, 

BY G B E G E LYMAN. 

The original proprietors of this township were Elijah 
Wadsworth, William Ely, and John Tappan, together 
with some small proprietors, 

The first settlement in Wadsworth was on the 17th 
of March, 1816, hy Daniel Dean and Oliver Durham. 
Benjamin Dean, son of Daniel Dean, arrived on the 1st 
of March, and assisted in cutting the first tree for the 
purpose of making improvements R. F. Warner and 
his brother, Daniel, both came in the same year. Dean 
and Durham were originally from Vermont. They 
stopped awhile in Canfield, Mahoning county. Here 
they became acquainted with Elijah Wadsworth, the 
proprietor of tract One, of whom they purchased, and 
were to have any lots they might choose. Mr. Dean, 
on crossing the east line of the township, and stopping 
on the first lot, immediately made his selection, saying, 
I will take this lot. The township had previously been 
divided into nine tracts, among the different proprie- 
tors. Numbers two, three, four and seven, were small 
tracts. Number five, the north-east quarter, was called 
tbe Tappan tract; number six, the Smith tract; num- 
ber one, the Wadsworth tract ; and number eight, the 
Ely tract. Number nine was owned by several 
proprietors. 

In 1815 Salmon Warner and Henry C. Wright, 
Christian and John Everhard, Christopher and William 
Baron, and their families, arrived in the township. Tn 



WADSWOUTH. ' 213 

1816 there was quite an increase of inhabitants — Jacob 
Miller, Samuel M. Elayden, Frederick Brawn, Joseph 
Loomis, Jacob and Adam Smith, Benjamin Simeox, 
William Ally, Daniel Ware and Samuel Blocker, with 

their families ; and Sherman Loomis, Steward and 
William C. Richards and George Razor, single men ; 
in 1817, George Lyman, with his family, Lemuel North, 
Gordon Hillard and Timothy Hudson, single; — these 
all settled in the east part of the township. In 1S1-S, 
Augustus Mills and family, Philo French, Heman and 
Amos Hanchet, Ira and Ephraim Moody, came in. 
Within the next six years the whole of the township, 
except the south-west quarter, was taken up and settled 
on. The number of inhabitants had increased to about 
nine hundred. 

The first school was taught by Harriet Warner, in 
1816. It was kept in one end of her father's log house, 
which, as was customary in those days, was built 
double. Among the scholars were Moses, Eben and 
Polly Dean ; Orpha, Amos and Horatio Warner ; Bet- 
sey and Hiram Hayden ; Rhoda and Roman Agard ; 
Sylvia Pease : George and David Miller ; Lydia 
Blocker ; Lucia, John and Edward Brown ; and Levlra 
Durham. The first school-house was built in the fall 
of 1816. The first school in that house was taught by 
Marcus Brown, (now Dr. Brown, of Circleville, Ohio.) 

The first child born in the township was Alonzo 
Durham. Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Durham came on the 
17th of March, 1814. From that time Mrs. Dean saw 
no woman but Mrs. Durham until the next August, and 
Mrs. Durham saw no woman but Mrs. Dean till Octo- 
ber following. In the meantime, in July, Alonzo Dur- 
ham was born. He resides in Indiana. The first 
person born, who resides here, is Eli Baron, son of 
Christopher Baron, born June, 1817. The first person 



214 WADSWoKTii. 

that died in the township was Daniel Ware. He died 
in 1817, of fever. He was from Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania. 

The first persons married were George Baron and 
Margarett Smith, February 25th, 1814. The services 
were performed by Salmon Warner, Esq., one of the 
first Justices. The first religious meeting was at the 
house of Oliver Durham, in July, 1814. The services 
were conducted by Daniel Dean and Salmon Warner. 
The first sermon was preached in 1815, by the Rev. 
O. G. Gillmore, of the Methodis't connection. The 
first church organized was the Methodist, in 1815. 
The members were Salmon Warner and wife, Oliver 
Durham and wife, Harriet Warner, Mrs. Kirkham and 
Mrs. Wright, in all seven. All are now dead but two. 

The Congregational church was organized August 
8th, 1819. The members were Frederick Brown and 
wife, Augustus Mills and wife, George Lyman and wife, 
Benjamin Agard, Sherman Loomis and Jacob Lindley, 
in all nine. Only two are still living, George Lyman 
and wife. Rev. Joseph Treat officiated at the organi- 
zation. 

The Baptist church was organized in 1821. Mem- 
bers, Elder Obediah Newcomb and wife, William Eylea 
and wife, Richard Clark and wife, Samuel Green and 
wife, and Mrs. Batison. 

The first board of trustees consisted of Frederick 
Brown, Samuel M.. Hayden and Jacob Miller. Justi- 
ces of peace, Salmon Warner and Joseph Loomis. 
Constable, Reuben T. Warner. About forty voters. 
This was while the township was connected with Nor- 
ton, and then called Wolf Creek township. At the 
first election after the township was detached from 
Wolf Creek, and organized by itself and called Wads- 
worth, held on the 6th day of April, 1818, were duly 



YVADSW0RTH 215 

elected, Joseph Loomis and Salmon Warner, Justices 
of the Peace ; Frederick Brown, Jacob Miller and 
Daniel Dean, Trustees ; Samuel Blocker and Joseph 
Loomis, Overseers of the poor ; Samuel M. Hayden, 
Lister ; Lysander Hard, Treasurer ; George Lyman 
and Win. C. Richards, Constables ; Sherman Loon is, 
Clerk ; John Wilson and Jacob Miller, Fence Viewers. 

George Lyman was constable two years in sucr-es- 
sion, and performed nearly or quite all the* business of 
constable. His fees amounted to one dollar; and that 
for advertising and selling a stray horse. 

The first law-suit in the township was between John 
Reed and Henry Falkner, before Esq. Warner. Falk- 
ner had bought a cake of tallow of Reed, and found, 
on examination, that it contained a piece of green beech 
wood, weighing about three pounds, upon which he 
refused to pay. Justice Warner decided that Reed 
should pay the cost and lose the tallow. 

The first installed minister of the Congregation;)! 
Church, was Rev. Amasa Jerome, in the fall of 1827. 
The Revs. Simeon Woodruff, Lathrop and Robins, 
officiated. The services were performed in Mr. Benj. 
Agard's frame barn, it being the most suitable place 
in the township. 

The first physician in the place was Dr. John Smith; 
the second, Dr. Nathaniel Eastman. 

While Dr. Smith was in practice, he had a patient, 
a young man, very sick with a fever. He was a single 
man and boarded at the house of Moody Weeks. 
Among the Dr's. prescriptions for the sick man, was a 
very large quantity of white coated pills, and these 
constituted the sum of the medicine. The unusual 
quantity the sick man was required to take, excited the 
curiosity of Mrs. Weeks to know what they were. On 
examination she found they consisted of unground 



21 G VVAPSWORTH. 

bhaek pepper rolled in flour. After' Dr. Smith moved 
to the west, part of the township, he was in the habit 
of sending his boy to A. & J. Pardee's store for whis- 
key. The following is an exact copy of twenty or 
more orders, all exactly alike. 

'•Messks. A. & •). Pardel: — 

Geuts: give the boy two jugs of whiskey, stop the jugs tight, 
help the 'toy on the hor?e. 

John Smith, Physician." 

Timothy Hudson built the first frame barn, in 1819. 
Benjamin Agard built the first frame house, in 1824. 
Joseph Loomis, Sherman Loomis, Abel Beach and 
George Beach built the first saw mill, in 1824. They 
had every thing ready to start their mill except a very 
little fixing, and left it on Saturday evening, in the 
month of January. During the night it rained consid- 
erably, and that with the melting of the snow, caused 
a freshet ; os that the next morning the dam, mill and 
all, had gone down stream. They rebuilt again the 
next your. Allen and John Pardee built the first grist 
mill, in 1820. Benjamin Agard cleared the first land 
free from all the timber, in the spring of 1818. The 
universal method had been to clear off the small timber 
and girdle the large trees, and leave them standing. 
In April, 1817, there was not a tree cut on. .the center 
road, between the center of "Wadsworth and Harris- 
ville, and no settlement in Sharon, which was then a 
part of Wolf Creek township, but afterwards called 
Hart & Mather. 

In the spring of 1821, the daughter of Abel Beach, 
aged twenty-six years, was lost. She left her father's 
house in the dusk of evening, April 17th. There was 
a squall of snow following a thunder shower, a little 
before she was found to be missing. There was a large 
chopping around the house, with the brush unburned. 



WADSWORTIT. 217 

This chopping and all the vicinity were searched 
through the night in vain. To call was of no use, as 
she was a deaf mute. Tn the morning her tracks in 
the snow were discovered leading in a straight line, in 
a south-west direction, but as the snow melted early in 
the morning, all trace of the poor girl was lost. At 
once, and for two or three days, the search became gen- 
eral, east west, north and south, but all in vain. The 
girl was never found, nor any sign or vestage or scrap 
of clothing, or remains whatever. 

In 1814, flour was very scarce. Aaron Norton and 
another man had been south and obtained some flour 
for the army at Cleveland. They boated up the Tus- 
carawas to New Portage, then passed over by teams to 
Cuyahoga Portage. Application was made to Mr. 
Norton for some of the flour, by Mr. Dean ; but Norton 
would not break a barrel or sell one for less than sev- 
enteen dollars. Mr. Dean had to go to Talmadge and 
procure a little, and in harvest go and work to pay for 
it. In 1814, flour was seventeen dollars per barrel, 
wheat three dollars per bushel, and salt twenty dollars 
per barrel, in Cleveland. 

In early times we had some "mighty hunters" in 
Wadsworth. Among the most prominent were Orrin 
Loomis, Phineas Butler, David Blocker, Timothy 
Dascomb and William Simeox. Bears, deer, turkeys 
and coons were then plenty. Loomis and Butler killed 
the most bears and coons, and Blocker the most deer. 
Simeox was not far behind — he actually killed nine deer 
and one bear in a day. 

Loomis had a dog that was famous for treeing bears 
and when once fairly treed, they might as well surren- 
der and come down as to wait for Loomis to shoot, as 
he hardly ever failed of securing his prey. Judge 
Brown told me that in 1816*. the settlers were in fi great 
28 



218 



WADSWORTII. 



measure dependant on Loomis and his dog for meat 
through the summer. One thing the Judge remarked 
was a little peculiar — the old dog was altogether the 
most successful on the Sabbath ; yet owing to the 
scarcity of provisions they did not deem it best to 
prosecute the dog. 

There were likewise plenty of rattle-snakes. Geo. 
Lyman killed eight in one day ; seven of them he found 
in a small hollow log, the eighth was by himself, and a 
very large one indeed. 

WADSWORTH STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses, - 
Cattle, 
Sheep, - 
Hogs, 

Merchandise, - 
Manufactures, 
Carriages and Wagons, 
Moneys and Credits, 
Butter, pounds, 
Cheese, " 
Wheat, bushels, 
Corn, " 



.Number. 


Value. 


669 


$30, 17a 


1,781 


16,818 


2,777 


5,306 


1,211 


3,298 




6,472 




5,055 


403 


10,897 




41,160 


50,371 


5,300 


3,200 


190 


26,255 


26,255 


68,590 


17,145 



Total value, |$168,171 

If to the foregoing be added the Talue of all other 
products, the total will amount to two hundred thou- 
sand dollars. 



WESTFIELD. 

The township was originally owned by Samuel Fow- 
ler, of Westfield, Massachusetts, and Henry Thorndyke, 
Portage county, Ohio. 

The first settlers were H. Palmer and Eben Mallory, 
in the spring of 1817. At that period there were set- 
tlements in Guilford and Harrisville, that more readily 
invited the speedy ingress of settlers into Westfield. 
Mr. Mallory and Mr. Palmer made the first opening 
on lot Ten, near the present residence of Mr. Daniels. 
Mr. Palmer still survives, residing with his son in 
Harrisville. Some of the family yet reside in the 
county. 

Mr. Mallory came to his death in the following man- 
ner : while aiding his son in putting a saw-log on trucks, 
the chain that fastened the log broke and let it down 
upon him, causing instant death. 

The first female child born in the township was Fan- 
ny Morton, in 1817. The first male child born was 
H. F. Mallory, in April 1818. The former resides in 
Lorain county, the latter in Illinois. The first person 
that died in the township was the wife of Alvah Beach, 
in August, 1821. 

The first school was taught by Miss Hosmer, in the 
summer of 1818 ; and the first winter school was taught 
by Ansel Brainard, the following winter. The school 
house was eighty rods north from " Morse's Corners." 
The names of the scholars that attended school were 
Melissa, Theron and Alfred Harrington, Alonzo and 
Lewis Nye, Charles Mallory, Jane and Sherwood Pal- 
mer, Eliza, Lucy and Lorenzo Brainard. 



220 WESTFIELD. 

The first marriage iu the township was Mr. B. Flan 
nigan to Miss Polly Cook, in June, 1819. 

The Methodist Church was organized in 1819, by 
Ansel Brainard, Jr. The number and names of those 
then composing the organization are now forgotten. 

In a few years thereafter the Baptist Church was 
organized; also the Congregational Church. Since the 
organization of these churches the accession in mem- 
bership has been great and exerts a salutary influence 
in the township. 

In 1820, the township was organized. At the first 
election twenty-six votes were polled. Messrs. Vaughn, 
Hamilton and Brainard were the first Trustees ; and 
George Collier, Clerk. Kufus Vaughn was the first 
Justice of the Peace. For several years prior to the 
organization, Westfield was attached to Harrisville and 
listed as part of that township. After the first openings 
were made the township filled rapidly with settlers, 
and in 1821, Westfield was considered as '■•pretty well 
tilled with settlers." The privations they encountered 
were somewhat similar to those were that endured in 
other sections of the county. 

How striking the contrast between the appearance 
exhibited in 1818, and that seen in 1861. The forest 
is tamed, the wild beasts have fled, the visage of the 
red man is no longer visable ; in their stead can be 
looked upon, with delight and gratitude, waving fields 
of grain in its season, heards of tamed cattle, and a 
dense population of orderly, industrious, moral, church 
going, patriotic citizens. The hastily constructed 
cabins are supplanted by commodious dwellings, the 
old log school house in which the first school rallied. 
has disappeared, and the township is dotted over with 
educational dwellings giving evidence of the improved 
stale of society. 



WESTFIELD. 221 

1 Ipon ;i portion of the forest where George Collier 
and others, forty-four years since, were accustomed to 
roam in search of wild game, can now be seen Churches, 
mechanic shops, and a dwelling owned by the Farmers' 
Insurance Company, that indicate the foresight and 
perseverance of the citizens. In every county in the 
State notoriety is given to the Insurance Company/and 
the safe w T ay in which its financial operations are con- 
ducted, give assurance that it is a safe Company. 

WBSTFIKLD STATISTICS. 



PERSONAL PROPERTY. 



Horses. 

Cattle, 

Fheep, - 

Hogs, 

Carriages and Wagons, 

Moneys and Credits. 

Butter, pounds, 

Cheese. 

Wheat, bushels, 

Corn, " 



Number 



428 


$20,280 


1,473 


15,670 


7,133 


12,135 


922 


2,«64 


120 


4,225 




36,551 


52,285 


5,230 


36,890 


2,370 


12,631 


12,631 


35,980 


8,995 



Total value, '$120,651 

If to the above be added the avails that yearly result 
from the products of all other articles, the total will 
amount to one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars. 



YORK. 

Although the township was not r rganized as early as 
1826, yet a goodly portion (fourteen thousand one 
hundred and thirty seven acres) of the lands compris- 
ed within its present limits, were on duplicate for tax- 
ation. In that year Fanny Chapman, Elijah Hubbard, 
James Mather, Samuel Mather's heirs, Thomas Mather, 
Thomas Sill and William N. Sill, owned fourteen thou- 
sand one hundred and thirty-seven acres, valued at 
$29,936, on which a tax of $295,62 was paid. At that 
date there is no report of any personal property being 
listed and returned for taxation. 

In 1S30 George Wilson, of Monroe county, New 
York, settled in York township, made the first pui- 
chase and erected the first cabin in September, and may 
be called the first settler. In the next month (October, 
1830,) Levi Branch, Lawson Branch, Bufus Stickney, 
Ezekiel Bruce, Solomon Hubbard, E. Munger and John 
Dunsha, removed from Sweden, in Monroe county, 
New York, and settled in the township. 

The first election held in the township, was in the 
barn of Mr. Branch. 

The first religious meeting ever held in the township 
was in the house of Mr. Branch. It continued at in- 
tervals, for seven weeks, and a marked change in 
actions was visible in all who attended those meetings. 

Prior to the coming of the first settlers, they had 
been notified by letters that the Norwalk Boad was lo- 
cated through the township, and was a good turnpike 



FORK. 223 

road ; and that Mallet Creek abounded with speckled 
trout. Upon their arrival they found it necessary to 
make their own road, and as for trout they never found 
any of the speckled tribe but could daily see plenty 
of speckled frogs in the swampy lands without visiting 
Mallet Creek. Prior to the clearing- of the level lands 
there were many swamps and pools ot water. 

The first child born in the township was Fanny 
Chapman Branch, daughter of Lawson and Cordelia 
Branch. 

The first death and burial in the township was a son 
of John Dunsha. The first school was kept by Theo- 
dore Branch in one part of Levi Branch's dwelling. 
Kev. S. V. Barnes was the first preacher that addressed 
a congregation in the township. The place of congre- 
gating was for several years at the house of Levi 
Branch. 

L. Branch owned the only team, and spent most of 
the first winter, after the arrival of the foregoing set- 
tlers, in making roads and traveling to Wooster, 
Portage and other places, to procure provisions. In 
the winter of that year a goodly number of settlers 
came in, and by the following spring there was quite 
a community. 

April 2nd, 1832, the township was organized by 
electing Levi Branch, Thomas Brintnall and Sylvanus 
Thun, Trustees; Philo Fenn, Treasurer; and Alexander 
Forbs, Clerk. At that election twenty votes were cast, 
which was then thought to be rather a large election. 

On 27th April, 1833, a Congregational Church was 
organized under the supervision of Revs. Barnes and 
Noyes, numbering twenty-six members. 

In a few years thereafter a Methodist class was 
formed, a neat building erected, and now a respectable 
church established. 



224 



Voi;k 



Alexander Forbs was elected Justice of the Peace 
in 1832, and during his legal term was hardly ever an- 
noyed by litigants seeking legal redress for supposed 
grievances. 

York township has, in twenty-nine years, thrown off 
every appearance of ever having been a fishing pond of 
" speckled trout," and become one of the prime town- 
ships in the county for grazing and agricultural pur- 
poses. Its rapid advances can be evidenced from 
examining the statistics here given for 1861. 

YORK STATISTICS. 



PERSONA L PRO PERT Y. 


Number. 
444 


Value. 


Horses, ------- 


$15,708 


Cattle, 


1,284 


12,519 


Sheep, - 


10,145 


15,710 


Hogs, ------- 


4L3 


1,297 


Carriages and Wagons, - 


141 


2,750 


Moneys and Credits, - 




08.4 78 


Butter, pounds, - 


27,011 


2,761 


Cheese, " - 


8,090 


500 


Wheat, bushels, 


5,807 


5,897 


Corn, " 


22,145 


5,516 


Total value, ----- 




$131,136 



If the sums that accrue from the yearly growth of 
all other articles, be added to the above, the total will 
amount to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. 



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